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 - 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 Indians of Massachusetts

1692 - The Salem Witchcraft trials last for three months from June to September

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.

For interesting information  refer to Facts about the Massachusetts Colony

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

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

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

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

1788 - Massachusetts is the sixth state to ratify the United States Constitution on February 6

Facts about the History of Massachusetts History - The Early 1800's

• The Native Indians of Massachusetts included the The Native Indians of Massachusetts were the Mohican, Nauset and the Massachuset

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

Facts about the History of Massachusetts History - The American Civil War

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

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

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

Origin of the name

• Named after the Massachusetts Indians that lived in the Massachusetts Bay area the name means "large hill place