American History Timeline (1675 - 1700)

American History Timeline (1675 – 1700)

American History Timeline: 1675

  • King Philip’s War begins when King Philips leads the Wampanoag Indians against Swansea.
  • The New England Confederation declares war on King Philip and each colony is required to provide men for a combined force.
  • King Philip achieves a decisive victory at Bloody Brook on September 18.

1676

  • In March, the Indians attack Plymouth, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island.
  • Nathaniel Bacon is declared a traitor and is arrested. He is later pardoned for this when he admits his guilt.
  • In June, the colonists with the Mohegan Indians defeat King Philip’s men at Hadley.
  • Nathaniel Bacon writes the “Declaration of the People of Virginia.”
  • In June, Nathaniel Bacon assembles a group of 500 men leading them to Jamestown in what comes to be known as Bacon’s Rebellion.
  • Virginia planters agree to support Nathaniel Bacon.
  • King Philip’s War ends on August 22 when the Indians surrender.
  • Bacon burns Jamestown on September 19.
  • On October, 18, Nathaniel Bacon dies. The rebel army surrenders when promised amnesty.

1677

  • Virginia Governor Berkeley executes 23 of the rebels from Bacon’s Rebellion in direct defiance of the crown. He is later replaced by Colonel Jeffreys as the head of Virginia.
  • Increase Mather writes “The Troubles That Have Happened in New England.”

1678

  • King Philip’s War is formally brought to an end.
  • The French (Rene Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle, and Father Louis Hennepin) find Niagara Falls while exploring Canada.

American History Timeline: 1680

  • New Hampshire is separated from Massachusetts by royal decree.

1681

  • William Penn receives a royal charter to set up Pennsylvania.

1682

  • Frenchman Sieur de la Salle claims the land at the mouth of the Mississippi for France and calls it Louisiana.
  • William Penn writes “Frame for Government” that provides for a precursor of a bicameral government.

1684

  • The charter for Massachusetts Bay Colony is revoked.

1685

  • The Duke of York becomes King James II and makes New York a royal province.
  • William Penn is given jurisdiction over Delaware.
  • The number of French Huguenot settlers in America increases after King Louis XIV revokes the Edict of Nantes that protected their religious freedom.
  • Increase Mather is named President of Harvard College.

1686

  • King James II creates the Dominion of New England and names Sir Edmund Andros as governor general.

1687

  • William Penn publishes “The Excellent Privilege of Liberty and Property”.

1688

  • Governor Edmund Andros places the militia of New England under his direct control.
  • The earliest known antislavery tract is released in the colonies by the Quakers at Germantown, Pennsylvania.
    • The Glorious Revolution occurs in which King James II (Catholic) flees to France and is replaced by William and Mary of Orange (Protestant).

1689

  • William and Mary of Orange are officially named King and Queen of England.
  • Governor Andros surrenders to colonial rebels and is put in jail.
  • New England colonies begin re-instituting their own governments after Governor Andros is removed from power.
  • The Toleration Acts are passed by Parliament which gives limited Freedom of Religion to citizens.
  • A Bill of Rights is passed by Parliament as a statue.

American History Timeline: 1690

  • King William’s War begins when the combined forces of the French and the Indians attack towns in New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

1691

  • William Penn makes Delaware a separate government from Pennsylvania.
  • Maryland is declared a Royal province removing Lord Baltimore from political power.
  • Plymouth Colony becomes part of Massachusetts.

1692

  • William III takes the throne.
  • Pennsylvania is named a royal colony.
  • Salem Witchcraft trials occur. 20 persons are executed before the trials end.

1693

  • College of William and Mary is founded in Williamsburg, Virginia.
  • North Carolina is designated.

1694

  • Colonists sign a peace treaty with the Iroquois to keep them from allying with the French in the future.
  • Pennsylvania is once again named a Proprietary Colony.

1696

  • Navigation Acts of 1696 are passed by Parliament that limit all colonial trade to English-built vessels among other things.

1697

  • The Treaty of Ryswick ends King William’s War and restores all colonial possessions to pre-war ownership.

1699

  • Pirate Captain Kidd is captured and sent to England where he will be executed in 1701.
  • Wool Act is passed by Parliament to protect the British wool industry. It forbids the export of wool from the American colonies.

1700

  • Massachusetts requires all Roman Catholic priests to leave the colony within three months or be arrested.
  • Boston is the largest city in the American colonies and the overall population of the colonies numbers around 275,000.

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