Colonial Era
Chapter I: La Conquista 1492 ― 1603
Conquistadors of the Caribbean 1492-1516
The Tierra Firme 1516-1558
Elizabethan Age 1558-1603
No Earlier Chapter
Nova Britannia 1603 ― 1675
Colonial Era Sponsors
In Grateful Recognition
"Patrons of the Past"
(Sponsoring all nine Eras)
Doug Shubert
Adam Shubert
Sponsors of the Colonial Era:
Bernie Frischer
Master Index
Documents
General History of New Spain
Bernardino de Sahagun
1576
A vast ethnographic study of Aztec society, religion, language, and daily life based on testimony from Indigenous Nahua informants in central Mexico. Often known as the Florentine Codex, the manuscript preserves one of the most detailed contemporary records of pre-conquest and early colonial New Spain, blending Nahuatl and Spanish text with hundreds of illustrations.
Patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert
Elizabeth I
06/11/1578
Elizabeth I granted letters patent to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, authorizing him to discover, claim, and govern remote “heathen and barbarous lands” not already possessed by any Christian prince in the name of England. The patent empowered Gilbert to establish colonies, exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction over settlers, and retain a share of profits, laying early legal foundations for English overseas expansion.
Charter to Sir Walter Raleigh
Elizabeth I
03/25/1584
Elizabeth I granted a charter to Sir Walter Raleigh, authorizing him to discover, occupy, and govern remote lands not already claimed by a Christian prince, shortly after the death of his half-brother Sir Humphrey Gilbert in 1583. The charter empowered Raleigh to establish colonies and exercise civil authority over settlers, laying the legal groundwork for England’s first sustained attempts at colonization in North America.
Charter of Acadia
Henry IV
12/18/1603
A charter to Pierre Dugua, Sieur de Mons, authorizing him to colonize and govern the territory of Acadia in North America under a royal trading monopoly. The charter empowered de Mons to establish settlements, promote the Catholic faith, and administer justice, laying the legal foundation for France’s early colonial presence in what is now Nova Scotia and the Canadian Maritimes.
Biographies
Roger
Sherman
Roger Sherman (1721–1793) was a Connecticut statesman and lawyer who played a central role in America’s founding and is the only person to sign all four key founding documents: the Continental Association, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. A delegate to both Continental Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, he later served in the first U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, shaping the early structure of the federal government.
Benjamin
Franklin
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) rose from humble beginnings as a runaway printer’s apprentice to become a leading writer, scientist, diplomat, and statesman whose influence shaped every stage of America’s founding. Through intellect, wit, and practical wisdom, he helped secure independence, unite the colonies, and design a constitutional republic that could endure.
George
Washington
George Washington (1732–1799) rose from a Virginia planter and provincial officer to become commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War and the indispensable leader who secured American independence. He then presided over the Constitutional Convention and served two terms as the first President of the United States, establishing enduring precedents for republican government, civilian control of the military, and peaceful transfer of power.
John
Adams
John Adams (1735–1826) was a Founding Father, lawyer, diplomat, first Vice President, and the second President of the United States, who played a central role in advocating for independence, drafting the influential Massachusetts Constitution, and securing peace with Britain and France. Known for his steadfast commitment to law, republican principles, and diplomacy.