Colonial America Timeline for Kids
Before there was a United States, people from England crossed the ocean to live in North America. Their towns grew into thirteen colonies. This timeline shows how that happened.
Cut and Order Activity
Cut out the seven picture cards and glue them in order on the timeline.
Download PDF
The timeline
1607Jamestown
About 100 men and boys from England build a town called Jamestown in Virginia. The first years are very hard, and many get sick or go hungry.
Why it matters: Jamestown was the first English town in North America that lasted.
1619Africans Brought to Virginia
A ship brings about 20 people from Africa to Virginia. They were taken from their homes and forced to work.
Why it matters: This was the start of slavery in the English colonies. It lasted for more than 200 years.
1620The Pilgrims Arrive
A ship called the Mayflower brings about 100 people to Plymouth, Massachusetts. They are called Pilgrims. They want to worship in their own way.
Why it matters: They made a set of rules that everyone agreed to follow. Their first winter was very hard.
1621A Harvest Feast
The Wampanoag people show the Pilgrims how to grow corn. In the fall, about 50 Pilgrims and 90 Wampanoag men share a feast for three days.
Why it matters: People remember this feast as the first Thanksgiving.
1681Pennsylvania
William Penn starts a colony called Pennsylvania. He says people of every religion are welcome there.
Why it matters: People came from many countries to live there. Its city, Philadelphia, grew fast.
1732The Thirteenth Colony
Georgia becomes the last of the thirteen colonies. The colonies now reach along the coast from New Hampshire to Georgia.
Why it matters: Each colony had its own leaders and its own way of life.
1750The Colonies Grow
More than one million people now live in the thirteen colonies. There are farms, towns, and busy ports like Boston and Philadelphia.
Why it matters: The colonies had grown strong. Soon they would want to rule themselves.
Words to know
- colony: a place ruled by a country far away
- settlement: a new town built by people who have just arrived
- harvest: the time when crops are picked
- port: a town where ships load and unload
Quiz
- What was the first English town in North America that lasted?
A. Boston B. Jamestown C. Philadelphia - What ship brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth?
A. The Mayflower B. The Victoria C. The Santa Maria - Who showed the Pilgrims how to grow corn?
A. The Wampanoag B. The King of England C. William Penn - Who started the colony of Pennsylvania?
A. William Penn B. John Smith C. George Washington - How many colonies were there in the end?
A. Three B. Ten C. Thirteen
Show answers
1. B (Jamestown) 2. A (The Mayflower) 3. A (The Wampanoag) 4. A (William Penn) 5. C (Thirteen)
The pictures are illustrations made for this timeline. They show what these people and places may have looked like.