First colonists arriving around 1607. Feared potential Native American attacks so they were looking for a location that would help defend itself.
More aristocracy than working class. Began exporting lumber, pitch and tar to England. The London Co. (The Virginia Co.) began bringing in women and children to colony to establish more solid community.
Headright System began drawing in more settlers from Europe to expand tobacco production.

Virginia House of Burgesses serves as the America's first elected legislature, modeled off of British Parliament. The first African slaves are brought to Virginia around this same time and gradually replaced the notion of indentured servants.

The Toleration Act, 1648; granted religious freedom to the people of Maryland due to the imbalance of Anglicanism and Catholicism (one of the very first acts of its kind).

Right around the time that Maryland is starting out, Francis Bacon wants to establish a large plantation west of Virginia. Lord Berkley of Virginia had already set up a treaty with Indians about western expansion but Bacon decided to move forward anyway with a group of landowners and former indentured servants for more land. This causes tension between western and eastern Virginia. The British sends in troops to restore order and control.

The Mayflower compact - based on Puritan ideas; established a civil government, provided elections, and promoted loyalty to the British Crown (King Charles I).
Squanto was captured and taken to England. He was a slave and learned English but was then sent back to the Americas. The people of the Plymouth Plantation established good relations with him and the Indians and had the first Thanksgiving.
Had a military and a government. William Bradford was elected governor several times.

Settlers wanted religious freedom from the Catholicism in England and obtained a charter from Charles I to establish a new colony.
Congregationalist Church - loosely Anglican, Calvinistic, political involvement, intolerant.

Thomas Hooker was a reverend who disagreed with the Congregationalist Churches so he broke off and founded Hartford, Connecticut.

Roundheads led by Puritan Oliver Cromwell. Roundheads gave Parliament control of London as they overthrew the monarchy for a good while. King Charles II returned from exile and reestablished the monarchy.

Continued move towards religious freedom led settlers to push for a charter from King Charles II to est. Carolina. North Carolina was settled on behalf of small, independent farms. South Carolina, on the other hand, was more prosperous and aristocratic.
John Locke involved in penning the Fundamental Constitution for Carolina. Set up a system of land distribution - "renting out" land. Also included system of social order.