history of the usa

30,000 BC

first Native Americans enter ‘America’ over the land bridge from Asia

beginning of civilisation

1001

Vikings temporarily settle in North America

1492

Christopher Columbud ‘discovered’ the Americas

began movement of europeans to the americas

1565

first Spanish colony in North America founded in Florida

1607

first successful english colony founded in Jamestown, Virginia

start of english colonisation » previous attempts foiled by diseases n conditions

1619

first black Africans imported to Jamestown

1620

the ‘Pilgrim Fathers’ land from the mayflower at plymouth rock

better life, could pursue religion fully, puritans

1630

boston n ten other colonies in massachusetts founded

1636

harvard university founded

first uni established in usa, civilised. education = moving forward, colonial development past agriculture

1664

england captures ‘new holland’ from the dutch n renames it ‘new york’

18th century

colonial development continues apace

1776

us dec of independence by the 13 colonies

1776 - 83

us war of independence

1783

treaty of paris ends the war of independence

1830

first railway opens in the usa

early 19th century

massive immigration from europe to the us

• looking for better opportunities

• fleeing from poverty, irish famine

• railway = moving from east to west

1869

first transcontinental railway opens