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1. Colonial Era Databases
- National Humanities Center - Over 175 primary resources about American Beginnings: 1492-1690. Topics range from the European slave trade and exploration to the Roanoke and Massachusetts Bay Colonies to the Russian settlement of Alaska.
- The National Gallery of Art American Painting - Provides an introduction to American painting and its use in expressing ideas about freedom, nationalism, and westward expansion. The site provides tours and in-depth studies about some famous artists and their works.
- Early Americas Digital Archive - The Early Americas Digital Archive (EADA) is a collection of electronic texts and links to texts originally written in or about the Americas from 1492 to approximately 1820. Open to the public for research and teaching purposes, EADA is published and supported by the Maryland Institute for Technology in the Humanities (MITH) under the general editorship of Professor Ralph Bauer, at the University of Maryland at College Park.
- American Journeys - A Digital Library and Learning Center of Eyewitness Accounts of Early American Exploration and Settlement. Documents include those from Christopher Columbus, Bartolomé de las Casas, Ralph Lane, John White, and others. This is a document and image database archive. For image database follow this link American Journeys Images.
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2. Europe and America in the Age of Exploration (1400-1700)
- This site is maintained by the American Studies Center of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and provides teachers with ideas for lecture themes, primary and secondary resources, audio lectures, digital textbooks, images, and videos.
- Age of Exploration Module
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3. Early Conquest and Exploitation Resources
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4. The Conquest of New Spain
by Bernal Díaz del Castillo
- Bernal Díaz del Castillo was a a conquistador, who wrote an account of the conquest of Mexico by the Spanish under Hernán Cortés. The link below is to a GoogleBook with an introduction about Bernal Díaz del Castillo followed by an English translation of his account of the conquest.
- The Conquest of New Spain
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5. The Devastation of the Indies by Bartolomé de las Casas
- Bartolomé de las Casas was a 16th-century Spanish historian and Dominican friar. He was considered the first "Protector of the Indians." Bartolomé de las Casas wrote histories about the colonization of the West Indies, including the violence committed against native peoples by the colonizers. The link below is to a GoogleBook with an introduction about Bartolomé de las Casas followed by an English translation of his history.
- The Devastation of the Indies
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6. The Requerimiento (1510)
- This document was written by Juan López de Palacios Rubios of the Council of Castille. The Requerimiento, or requirement, was meant to be read to native groups of the Americas. It claimed that God was the ruler over all of the earth and that the natives were required to submit to conquest by the Spanish Monarchs since the Spanish colonizers were sent by God.
- Excerpt of The Requerimiento
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7. The Conquistadors by PBS
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8. NCpedia: Prehistory and Early history
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9. EyeWitness to History
- This website offers a collection of excerpts from primary resources including some from the age of exploration and colonial era. EyeWitness to History is maintained by Ibis Communications a publisher of educational websites and CD-ROMs. This site provides the following primary resource excerpts:
- Captain John Smith is Saved by Pocahontas, 1608
- Aboard the Mayflower, 1620
- The First Thanksgiving, 1621
- The Price of Adultery in
Puritan Massachusetts, 1641
- Living Among the Mohawks, 1644
- The Execution of Charles I, 1649
- The Salem Witch Trials, 1692
- Daily Life on a Colonial Plantation, 1709-11
- Passage To America, 1750
- Captured By Indians, 1758
- Daniel Boone
Opens Up the West, 1769-71
- The Boston Massacre, 1770 The British Perspective
- The Boston Tea Party, 1773
- Getting Sick, 1774
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10. Colonial Settlement: The English Establish a Foothold at Jamestown, 1606-1610
- The Library of Congress provides excerpts from primary resources about "Settlement, Beginnings to 1763," as a part of the American Memory Timeline. The following excerpts are available:
- A Justification for Planting Virginia Before 1609
- Captain John Smith Describes the Voyage of the First Colonists in Virginia, 1606-1607
- Building Jamestown and Conflicts Among the Colony's Leaders
- Other Witnesses to Jamestown Between Founding and the First Supply
- The Arrival of the First Supply to Jamestown, January 1608
- Some Observations on the Second Supply to Jamestown, September 1608
- John Smith's "Rude" Letter to the Virginia Company, 1608 (possibly September)
- The Jamestown Colonists Compare Their Efforts with the Spanish
- John Smith Compels the Colonists to Work, 1609
- John Smith Assesses the Accomplishments and Problems of Jamestown, 1609 and 1612
- John Smith, Wounded, Retires from Virginia, 1609
- Instructions to Governor Sir Thomas Gates, May 1609
- The Virginia Company's Public Relations Campaign, 1609
- The "Starving Time," Winter of 1609-1610
- The Colonists Nearly Abandon Jamestown, 1610
- Jamestown Given New Life, 1610
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11. Evolution of the Virginia Colony, 1611-1624
- The Library of Congress provides excerpts from primary resources about "Settlement, Beginnings to 1763," as a part of the American Memory Timeline. The following excerpts are available:
- Sir Thomas Gates Reports to the Virginia Company, 1610
- The Transition from Lord De La Warr to Sir Thomas Dale, May 1611
- The Virginia Company's Public Relations Campaign, 1612
- For the Colony of Virginea Britannia: Lawes Devine, Morall, and Martiall, 1612
- Sir Thomas Dale Encourages Individual Enterprise in Virginia, 1614
- Governor Argall Finds Virginia "Decayed and Crooked," 1617
- The Virginia Colonists Find a Staple Product: Tobacco, 1616-1618
- Virginia's Labor Problem, 1617-1620
- Implementing the Great Charter in Virginia, 1619
- John Rolf Reports on Virginia to Sir Edwin Sandys, 1619
- Treasuror, Councell, and Company for Virginia, A Broadside, 1620
- A Declaration of the State of Virginia, June 22, 1620
- A Declaration of the State of the Colony and Affaires in Virginia, 1622
- The Miserable Condition of Virginia, 1623 (May or June)
- John Smith Assesses the Virginia Colony, 1624
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12. Virginia's Early Relations with Native Americans
- The Library of Congress provides excerpts from primary resources about "Settlement, Beginnings to 1763," as a part of the American Memory Timeline. The following excerpts are available:
- John Smith Appointed to Manage "All Things Abroad," 1607
- John Smith Captured by the Pamunkey Indians, 1607
- Captain Newport Visits Powhatan, 1607
- John Smith Attempts to Suppress the Indians Around Jamestown, 1608
- The "Coronation" of Powhatan, 1608
- John Smith and Powhatan Exchange Views, 1608
- The Virginia Company's Instructions to Sir Thomas Gates Concerning the Natives, May 1609
- Powhatan Takes Advantage of "The Starving Time," 1609-1610
- Converting Indians to Christianity Justifies English Colonization, 1610
- Powhatan's Daughter, Pocahontas, Taken Prisoner, 1612
- Pocahontas Marries John Rolfe, 1613
- John Rolfe Reports to Edwin Sandys Concerning Indians, 1619
- George Thorpe and John Pory to Sir Edwin Sandys, May 15, 1621
- A Relation of the Barbarous Massacre, 1622
- How the Massacre Was Good for the Plantation, 1622
- A Proposal for Subjugating the Indians, December 15, 1622
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13. North Carolina Colonial Charters, Grants, and Related Documents
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14. Establishing the Georgia Colony, 1732-1750
- The Library of Congress provides excerpts from primary resources about "Settlement, Beginnings to 1763," as a part of the American Memory Timeline. The following excerpts are available:
- Sir Robert Montgomery Calls for a New Colony South of Carolina, 1717
- Rationale for Founding the Georgia Colony Under James Oglethorpe, 1733
- James Oglethorpe's Speech to the South Carolina Assembly, June 9, 1733
- The South Carolina Assembly's Representation on Indian Relations, 1734
- The South Carolina Assembly's Representation on Defense, 1734
- The Georgia Trustees: Rules for 1735
- The Deposition of Lieutenant George Dunbar, 1738-39
- Representation of Freeholders in Georgia to the Trustees, December 9, 1738
- The Georgia Trustees Respond to the Freeholders' Representation, June 20, 1739
- The Province of Georgia in 1740: Economic Progress and Indians
- The Province of Georgia in 1740: Settlers
- German Settlers in Georgia, 1741
- A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia: A Dedication to His Excellency General Oglethorpe, 1741
- A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia: Settlers' Grievances, 1741
- A True and Historical Narrative of the Colony of Georgia: Conclusion: 1741
- The Georgia Trustees Justify Their Policies, 1742
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15. Smithsonian Source: Colonial America
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16. America's Story from America's Library
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17. Colonial Maps
- The University of Georgia Libraries provides an online collection of colonial maps dating from 1625 to 1774.
- Colonial Maps Link
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18. Colonial and Early America by Library of Congress
- This site contains a collection of primary resources, lesson plans, teacher guides, timelines, and much more! Some interesting items include:
- Jamestown -“Maps, images, and text tell the story of the first English settlement in North America, and how it came to be regarded in later years.”
- Thanksgiving – “Study photographs, paintings, letters, and official proclamations to discover historical perspectives on American Thanksgiving holiday traditions, beginning with the pilgrims who came to North America on the Mayflower.”
- Drake’s West Indian Voyage 1588-1589 (Grades 6-8) “Students investigate maps depicting a voyage by Sir Francis Drake involving attacks on Spanish settlements around the Atlantic. Students look closely at the details and draw conclusions about individual events as well as the entire voyage.”
- George Washington: First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen (Grades 9-12) “Students engage in three lessons examining George Washington's leadership. Lesson One examines ways in which George Washington demonstrated his leadership abilities as a young British colonial officer.”
- The Huexotzinco Codex (Grades 3-8) “Students analyze pictograph documents created by native peoples of Puebla, Mexico in 1531. Students take on the role of historians, study the documents, and create a scenario to explain what these documents were for, who created them, and why.”
- Geography and Its Impact on Colonial Life (Grades 6-8) “Students examine a variety of primary sources to determine why colonists were drawn to settle in a particular region of the country.”
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19. Multimedia for the Study of Colonial America by the Library of Congress
- 1492: An Ongoing Voyage “(Exhibition) This online exhibit focuses not only on the Northern hemisphere before 1492, but also on those who arrived from Europe and Africa in the 16th and early 17th centuries.”
- American Memory Timeline: Colonial Settlement, 1600s-1763 “(Presentation) Explore America's early settlement through primary documents from the period.”
- The Atlantic World: The Dutch in America “(International) Learn about Dutch involvement in the exploration and settlement of North America. This collection includes a variety of maps.”
- The Buccaneers of America, 1678 “(Exhibition) This interactive book features an eyewitness account of 17th century privateers. Illustrations, translations and narrations are included.”
- The Cultures and History of the Americas: The Jay I. Kislak Collection at the Library of Collection “(Exhibition) This exhibition focuses on the early Americas from the time of the indigenous people of Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean through the period of European contact, exploration, and settlement. Of special interest is a page from George Washington’s 1762 almanac.”
- Exploring the Early Americas: The Jay I. Kislak Collection “(Exhibition) This exhibition examines indigenous cultures, the drama of the encounters between Native Americans and Europeans, and the changes caused by the meeting of the two worlds. Rare maps are featured throughout the exhibition.”
- France in America “(International) This collaborative digital library explores the history of the French presence in North America from the first decades of the 16th century to the end of the 19th century.”
- Settlement and Colonial Life “(Prints and Photographs) View a selection of images depicting early American life from the online version of Pictorial Americana.”
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20. The Colonial House for Teachers on PBS
- This site provides primary resources and lesson plans for teachers about Colonial America.
- Colonial House
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21. God in America Online Video by PBS
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22. Salem Witch Trials
- Documentary Archive and Transcription Project - This Documentary Archive and Transcription Project is supported by the University of Virginia and includes primary resources and transcriptions of the court records from the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. This online source also includes photos, maps, and information about notable people of this time.
- Salem Witch Trials – A primary resource and image from America’s Story from America’s Library by the Library of Congress.
- Salem Witchcraft Trials - Primary resource documents from the UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-KANSAS CITY (UMKC) SCHOOL OF LAW. See this website from Evidence and Examination documents, Petitions of Accused Witches, Petitions for Compensation, a List of the Dead, and much more. Some documents include:
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23. Poor Richard's Almanack
- View the 1753 edition of Poor Richard's Almanack by Benjamin Franklin. The Almanack includes a calendar, weather predictions, poems, Franklin's aphorisms or sayings, and astronomical and astrological information pertaining to the Colonial era.
- 1753 Edition of the Almanack
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25. Various 17th Century Document from New England
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26. Political Documents about Virginia
- Primary resource documents provided by various institutions and Web sites.
- Instructions for the Virginia Colony, 1606
- The First Virginia Charter, 1606
- The Second Virginia Charter, 1609
- The Third Virginia Charter, 1612
- First, Second, & Third Virginia Charters
- An Ordinance and Constitution of the Virginia Company in England for a Council of State and General Assembly, 24 July 1621
- Bacon's Declaration in the Name of the People, 30 July 1676
- Governor William Berkely: On Bacon's Rebellion, 19 May 1676
- Edward Randolph's Condemnation of the Massachussetts Bay Company, 12 June 1683
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27. Various Political Documents about New England
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28. The Maryland Toleration Act (1649)
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29. Thomas Harriot
- From docsouth.unc.edu: Thomas Hariot (also spelled Harriott and Harriot) (1560?-1621), explorer, scientist, and author, was the first English compiler and publisher of information relating to the New World. By 1580, Hariot had already been tutoring Sir Walter Raleigh and his sea captains in mathematics and navigation for a few years and was involved in the initial planning of Raleigh's Roanoke venture in 1583. But his first-hand experience in England's early attempts at exploring and colonizing the New World came from his participation in the second Roanoke expedition of 1585. After returning to England, Hariot lent his navigational expertise to helping the English defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588. In the early 1600s, though, he served a brief sentence in the Tower of London for his role in a feud between Raleigh and the court of King James. By the mid-1600s, Hariot returned to his mathematical and astronomical interests, which he pursued until his death in England on July 2, 1621. The University of Georgia Libraries provides an online collection of colonial maps dating from 1625 to 1774.
- Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia
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30. John Lawson
- From docsouth.unc.edu: In late December 1700, John Lawson and a group of eight Englishmen and Native Americans set off on a 500-mile, two-month trek into the Carolina backcountry. The expedition began in Charles Town and headed north and west as far present-day Hillsborough, North Carolina, and then turned east, ending up in the settlement of Bath on the Pamlico Sound in February 1701. During the journey, Lawson kept a detailed journal, made sketches and maps, and gathered specimens of plants and animals.
- A New Voyage to Carolina; Containing the Exact Description and Natural History of That Country: Together with the Present State Thereof. And a Journal of a Thousand Miles, Travel'd Thro' Several Nations of Indians. Giving a Particular Account of Their Customs, Manners, &c.
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31. Sir Ralph Lane
- From docsouth.unc.edu: Sir Ralph Lane, soldier and courtier, was born circa 1530 in Devonshire, England. Sir Walter Raleigh invited Lane to command an expedition to America, and he sailed on April 9, 1585 under Sir Richard Grenville. At the end of June, they arrived at Wococon, now Ocracoke Island, on the North Carolina Outer Banks. A colony was soon established, with Lane acting as governor. During the next eight months, the Roanoke colonists ran low on supplies, started arguing with each other, and began to have conflicts with the natives. In June 1586, Lane killed Wingina, a tribal chief, after learning of a tribal conspiracy to attack the colonists. On the following day, Sir Francis Drake arrived with supplies and men. Following a disastrous hurricane, Lane decided to return to England with Drake and most of the colonists. Lane lived most of the remainder of his life in Ireland, and never led another expedition. He died in October of 1603.
- Raleigh's First Roanoke Colony. An Account of the Particularities of the Imployments of the English Men Left in Virginia by Richard Greenevill under the Charge of Master Ralph Lane Generall of the Same, from the 17. of August 1585. until the 18. of June 1586. at Which Time They Departed the Countrey; Sent and Directed to Sir Walter Raleigh.
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32. The Founding of New Bern in Present-day NC
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33. Brief Description of the Province of Carolina
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34. The Stamp Act - March 22, 1765
- Read the text of the Stamp Act from USHistory.org. USHistory.org is maintained by the Independence Hall Association (IHA) which seeks "to educate the public about the Revolutionary and Colonial eras of American history, as well as Philadelphia generally."
- Stamp Act - March 22, 1765
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35. The Regulator Movement in North Carolina
- Read a letter from Richard Henry Lee to William Lee about the "Regulator Movement" from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. This institute provides a robust database of primary resources concerning American history.
- Letter about the NC Regulator Movement
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36. The Puritans: A Sourcebook of Their Writings
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