1498

Italian explorer John Cabot ( Giovanni Caboto ) explores the coast for the English

1602

Bartholomew Gosnold (1572 - 1607 ) the English explorer and colonizer explores coast

1604

Samuel de Champlain (1567-1635) French explorer and navigator maps the coast

1606

King James I grants charter to Plymouth Company (also called Virginia Company of Plymouth, organized 1606 by King James I of England to establish colonies in America

1607

Jamestown established - the first permanent English-speaking settlement in the New World

1614

Captain John Smith (1580-1631) maps the coast

1620

The Mayflower sails from Plymouth, England and after a journey of sixty-six days anchors in Plymouth harbor, and the Pilgrims established a settlement
John Winthrop, English Puritan leader (1587-1649), arrives in Massachusetts with 1,000 settlers

1621

The first Thanksgiving was celebrated by the Pilgrims in Plymouth

1626

John Endecott (1588-1665) Puritan colonial leader known for his intolerance of religious dissenters founds the Puritan colony at Naumkeag (later Salem) with Roger Conant (1592-1679)

1629

Massachusetts Bay Company chartered

1675

1675 - 1677: King Philip's War so named after Metacomet of the Wampanoag tribe, who was called Philip by the English. The war was bloody and bitterly fought by the colonists against the Native Indians. During King Philip's War, up to one third of America's white population was wiped out. This war proved to be the final struggle by the Native Americans of Massachusetts

1692

The Salem Witchcraft trials last for three months from June to September

1756

1756 - 1763: The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

1763

1763 - 1767 Legal battles were settled by a survey -- which resulted in the Mason-Dixon line, surveyed by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon, establishing Maryland's northern boundary

For additional facts and information about Colonial America refer to the Massachusetts Colony

1775

1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America.The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies. George Washingtonled the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence)

1776

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

1778

July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

1783

September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

1788

Statehood - The Date that Massachusetts was admitted to the Union - February 6, 1788. Constitution - Massachusetts was the 6th State to be admitted to the Union. State Motto - " Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem " the State Motto is translated as " By the sword we seek Peace, but Peace only under Liberty "

1812

1812 - 1815: The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

1861

1861 - 1865: The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War.

1865

The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

1865

1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

1898

1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Massachusetts Timeline

Origin of the State name - Named after the Massachusetts Indians that lived in the Massachusetts Bay area the name means "large hill place.

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