READ: Colonial America

Often, when we think of the birth of America or the first Americans, we think of Jamestown or the Mayflower or the original thirteen English colonies that first comprised the United States. But the history of America and of the first people who lived here stretches far beyond that. Long before Columbus "discovered" the Americas in 1492, complex societies existed here, staking their claim from sea to shining sea.

We will look specifically at how the British colonies prospered from 1607 to 1775--prospered so much, in fact, that calls for independence from Mother England eventually became deafening. The key people, events, and forces that shaped Colonial America will be examined.