16th century in North American history
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| Centuries: |
15th century - 16th century - 17th century |
| Decades: |
1500s 1510s 1520s 1530s 1540s 1550s 1560s 1570s 1580s 1590s |
The 16th century in United States history refers to the period in the United States from 1501 through 1600 in the Gregorian calendar.
Contents |
[edit] Events
- First European explorers arrive and begin colonizing North America.
[edit] Early 1500s
- Europeans first reach North America and encounter Native Americans.
- 1524: Giovanni da Verrazzano, working for France, explores coastline from present-day North Carolina to Maine
[edit] Mid 1500s
1540: Francisco Vásquez de Coronado attacked the original seven Zuñi villages, seeking the vast stores of gold associated with the mythical Seven Cities of Cibola.
[edit] Late 1500s
- 1564-65: Rene de Laudonniere heads French colony on St. Johns River in Florida until expelled by Spanish. French artist Jacques le Moyne paints first known European depiction of Indians.
- 1576: Martin Frobisher of England makes the first of three attempts to find a Northwest Passage, sailing as far as Hudson Strait. What he thought was gold discovered on his journey was later proven worthless.
- 1579: British Navigator Sir Francis Drake (c.1540-96) on a voyage around the world in the Golden Hind, claims California for Queen Elizabeth I.
- c. 1575: Martin Frobisher continues the fruitless search for a passage to Asia.
- 1576-78: Martin Frobisher, seeking a Northwest Passage to the Pacific, encounters various Eskimo groups.
- 1583: Sir Humphrey Gilbert, brother-in-law of Sir Walter Raleigh, claims Newfoundland as England's first overseas colony.
- 1585: Sir Walter Raleigh founds colony on Roanoke Island in what will become Virginia.
- 1588: English fishing fleet delays sailing to Newfoundland to participate in the defeat of Spanish Armada.
- 1591: Gov. John White returns to the colony on Roanoke Island from a trip to England to find that the colonists have vanished.
- 1598: The Marquis de la Roche lands 40 convicts on Sable Island.
- 1599: Samuel de Champlain, French explorer, arrives, followed by Catholic missionaries.
