The Virginia Company of London established the House of Burgesses in July 1619, making it the first representative legislative assembly in the New World. The House of Burgesses was made up of 22 elected representatives from each of the 11 plantations in Virginia. The assembly's main responsibility was to make laws for the colony, but it also had the power to raise taxes and impeach officials. The House of Burgesses played an important role in the development of democracy in the United States.
2. Introduction of African Slavery to North America.
In August 1619, a Dutch ship arrived at Jamestown, Virginia, carrying 20 enslaved Africans. These were the first African slaves to be brought to North America. The introduction of slavery had a profound impact on the colonies, as it became an integral part of the economy and society. Slavery also led to the development of racism and discrimination in the United States.
3. The Arrival of the Mayflower.
The Mayflower, a ship carrying 102 passengers, mostly English Puritans, arrived at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in November 1620. These passengers were fleeing religious persecution in England and hoped to establish a new life in the New World. The Pilgrims, as they came to be known, faced many challenges in their first few years in America, but they eventually established a successful colony. The arrival of the Mayflower is often seen as the beginning of the United States.