A chronology of key events: 1565 - First permanent European settlement in North America - St Augustine, present-day Florida - founded by the Spanish. North America is already inhabited by several distinct groups of people, who go into decline following the arrival of settlers.  | Revolution: The Continental Army fought against British rule |
1607 - Jamestown, Virginia, founded by English settlers, who begin growing tobacco. 1620 - Plymouth Colony, near Cape Cod, is founded by the Pilgrim Fathers, whose example is followed by other English Puritans in New England. 17th-18th centuries - Hundreds of thousands of Africans brought over and sold into slavery to work on cotton and tobacco plantations. 1763 - Britain gains control of territory up to the Mississippi river following victory over France in Seven Years' War. War of Independence 1774 - Colonists form First Continental Congress as Britain closes down Boston harbour and deploys troops in Massachusetts. 1775 - American Revolution: George Washington leads colonist Continental Army to fight against British rule. 1776 4 July - Thomas Jefferson's American Declaration of Independence endorsed by Congress; colonies declare independence. 1781 - Rebel states form loose confederation, codified in Articles of Confederation, after defeating the British at the Battle of Yorktown. | ABRAHAM LINCOLN |
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