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Date |
Event(s) |
| 1 | 1681 | - 16 Jan 1681: Pennsylvania granted to William Penn
King Charles II granted a large tract of land to William Penn, a Quaker, to found the colony of Pennsylvania.
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| 2 | 1683 | - 10 Apr 1683: New York City Charter
The Dongan Charter established the government of New York City.
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| 3 | 1686 | - 1 Jan 1686: Dominion of New England formed
King James II merged the New England colonies into a single administrative unit, revoking their colonial charters.
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| 4 | 1689 | - 16 Apr 1689: Boston Revolt
Bostonians arrested the royal governor of the Dominion of New England, Sir Edmund Andros, in a popular uprising.
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| 5 | 1690 | - 8 Feb 1690: Schenectady Massacre
French forces and their Native American allies attacked the settlement of Schenectady, New York, killing over 60 people.
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| 6 | 1692 | - 1 Mar 1692: Salem Witch Trials begin
The first arrests for witchcraft were made in Salem Village, Massachusetts, leading to a series of trials and executions.
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| 7 | 1701 | - 27 May 1701: Charter of Privileges
William Penn granted a new constitution to the Pennsylvania colony, giving more power to the colonial assembly.
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| 8 | 1704 | - 20 May 1704: Boston News-Letter published
The first successful, continuously published newspaper in the colonies was published in Boston.
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| 9 | 1718 | - 3 Jan 1718: New Orleans founded
The French founded the city of New Orleans, which became a key port on the Mississippi River.
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| 10 | 1733 | - 12 Feb 1733: Georgia founded
James Oglethorpe founded the colony of Georgia, the last of the original 13 colonies, as a haven for debtors.
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| 11 | 1735 | - 19 Mar 1735: Zenger Trial
John Peter Zenger was acquitted of seditious libel, a landmark case that established a precedent for freedom of the press in America.
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| 12 | 1739 | - 1 Jan 1739: Stono Rebellion
A slave rebellion in South Carolina resulted in the deaths of over 20 whites and 44 slaves, leading to stricter slave codes.
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| 13 | 1740 | - 1 Jan 1740: Great Awakening begins
A series of religious revivals began to sweep through the American colonies, led by figures like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.
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| 14 | 1752 | - 15 Jun 1752: Franklin's kite experiment
Benjamin Franklin conducted his famous kite experiment, proving that lightning is a form of electricity.
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| 15 | 1754 | - 28 May 1754: French and Indian War begins
A conflict between Great Britain and France for control of North America began, with Native American tribes allied with both sides.
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| 16 | 1759 | - 14 Sep 1759: Battle of Quebec
British forces under General James Wolfe defeated the French, leading to the capture of Quebec and a turning point in the French and Indian War.
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| 17 | 1763 | - 10 Feb 1763: Treaty of Paris ends war
The Treaty of Paris was signed, ending the French and Indian War and ceding French territory in North America to Great Britain.
- 7 Oct 1763: Proclamation of 1763
King George III issued a proclamation forbidding American colonists from settling west of the Appalachian Mountains.
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| 18 | 1764 | - 5 Apr 1764: Sugar Act passed
The British Parliament passed the Sugar Act to raise revenue from the colonies, which angered colonists and led to protests.
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| 19 | 1765 | - 22 Mar 1765: Stamp Act passed
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, requiring a tax on all legal documents, newspapers, and other printed materials.
- 24 Mar 1765: Quartering Act
The British Parliament passed the Quartering Act, requiring American colonists to provide housing and food for British soldiers.
- 7 Oct 1765: Stamp Act Congress meets
Delegates from nine colonies met in New York to protest the Stamp Act, issuing a Declaration of Rights and Grievances.
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| 20 | 1766 | - 18 Mar 1766: Declaratory Act passed
The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act but passed the Declaratory Act, asserting its right to legislate for the colonies "in all cases whatsoever."
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| 21 | 1767 | - 29 Jun 1767: Townshend Acts passed
Parliament passed new laws taxing imports of glass, lead, paper, paint, and tea into the colonies.
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