Timeline (American Commonwealth)

1607 - The first successful English colony is established at Jamestown, in what would come to be known as Virginia.

1609 - Henry Hudson, an Englishman sailing for Holland, charters much of what will become New York City and the Hudson River Valley aboard his ship Halve Maen.

1620 - Plymouth Colony is established by Pilgrim settlers in Massachusetts.

1629 - Massachusetts Bay Colony is established by Puritan settlers.

1636 - Providence Settlement established by Massachusetts exile Roger Williams in what will come to be known as Rhode Island.

1663 - The Province of Carolina is established, eventually dividing into North and South colonies by 1720.

1674 - After changing hands twice, England takes control of New Netherland and its prominent capital and port city New Amsterdam (also known as New Orange) for good. Both the province and city are renamed New York.

1681 - William Penn founds the Province of Pennsylvania.

1701 - Delaware Colony is established.

1702 - New Jersey colony is established.

1732 - James Oglethorpe is given a corporate charter and establishes the Province of Georgia.