Colonial Times

This post covers the period following ''The Age of Exploration'' to the beginnings of conflicts with Great Britain. it includes information, illustrations, maps and links to related Web Sites. a
The Colonial times begin in the 1600's, soon after Christopher Columbus discovered America. Everyone was getting ready for World War Two. There were stories said that in America there was gold and lush, fertile land. This land, though the Europeans did not know, was already claimed by Native Americans. The Pilgrims were the first people other than the Native Americans to settle in this land. They came wanting religious freedom, more land, and gold. They payed prices for their freedom. They suffered from famine, deaths and fatal diseases. The Spanish were the first to build a colony, which is now called Florida. The pilgrims pushed North and claimed South America. 1607 England's first permanent colony was built, called James Town. Many died over the hard winter, and of the remaining colonists, John Smith convinced them that there was no gold.1612 a James Town farmer found tobacco which became very popular. Shortly after a disease called Tobacco Fever was founded and brought many people to their deaths. In the 1620's John Smith made the Mayflower Compact. This was a written agreement by a consensus of the new settlers arriving at New Plymouth.