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October 12, 1492: Columbus's First Landing in the Americas

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October 12, 1492: Columbus's First Landing in the Americas

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Christopher Columbus made his first landing in the Americas on the island of San Salvador (Watling Island) in the Bahamas. This momentous event marked the beginning of sustained European contact with the Americas and initiated the Columbian Exchange. Columbus, believing he had reached Asia, established the first Spanish settlement in the Caribbean, leading to profound changes that would reshape both the Old and New Worlds.

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1493-1515: Establishment of Spanish Empire in Caribbean

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1493-1515: Establishment of Spanish Empire in Caribbean

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The Spanish quickly established their presence in the Caribbean, creating their first permanent settlement at Santo Domingo. This became the launching point for further Spanish exploration and conquest. Under the encomienda system, indigenous peoples were forced to work for Spanish colonizers, leading to devastating population decline through disease and exploitation.

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1542: Bartolomé de las Casas's Influence

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1542: Bartolomé de las Casas's Influence

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In Mexico City, Bartolomé de las Casas, known as 'Protector of the Indians,' successfully lobbied for the passage of the New Laws of the Indies. These laws aimed to end the encomienda system and improve the treatment of indigenous peoples. His work 'A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies' exposed the brutality of Spanish colonization and influenced colonial reform efforts.

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The first English attempt at settlement in North America was established on Roanoke Island. Led by Sir Walter Raleigh's expedition, the colony mysteriously disappeared by 1590. When John White returned after a three-year supply mission, he found the settlement abandoned with only the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a fence post, creating one of American history's greatest mysteries.

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The first permanent English settlement in North America was established at Jamestown, Virginia. The Virginia Company of London sponsored this commercial venture, which initially struggled with disease, starvation, and conflicts with local Powhatan Indians. The discovery of tobacco as a profitable crop and the development of the House of Burgesses marked significant turning points for the colony.

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1620: Plymouth Colony and the Mayflower Compact

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1620: Plymouth Colony and the Mayflower Compact

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The Puritans, seeking religious freedom, established Plymouth Colony after arriving on the Mayflower. Before landing, they signed the Mayflower Compact, creating a civil body politic and establishing self-governance. Despite harsh conditions and high mortality rates, the colony survived with help from the Wampanoag people, leading to the first Thanksgiving celebration.

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Led by John Winthrop, who envisioned a 'city upon a hill,' the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established as a major Puritan settlement. This colony became the largest and most influential of the New England colonies, with Boston as its capital. The colony implemented a theocratic government and established Harvard College in 1636.

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Spain established St. Augustine in Florida, the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the continental United States. Founded by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, the settlement served as a strategic military outpost to protect Spanish treasure fleets and prevent French encroachment. The Castillo de San Marcos, built in 1672, stands as a testament to Spanish colonial military architecture.