Facts about the History of
West Virginia

Fast Facts about Virginia History - West Virginia was part of Virginia at the time of the founding of the United States

• Facts about Virginia History - 1500 / 1600's

  • The Native Indians of Virginia included the Cherokee, Iroquois, Manahoac, Meherrin, Monacan, Nottaway, Occaneechi, Saponi and Shawnee tribes

  • 1584 - March 25 Queen Elizabeth I of England granted a charter to Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) to search and discover 'remote and heathen lands'

  • 1584 - April 27 Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe reach Roanoke Island in July, authorised by Sir Walter Raleigh, claim the land and return to England in September

  • 1585 - Sir Walter Raleigh (1554-1618) led expeditions to both North America and South America in order to found new settlements and find gold. Raleigh sends several shiploads of colonists to the east coast of North America and names Virginia in honour of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

  • 1585 - Raleigh's fleet of seven vessels under Sir Richard Grenville (1541 - 1591) reach Roanoke Island in June

  • 1586 - The colonists on Roanoke Island are forced to return to England due to hardships

  • 1587 - John White ( 1540? - 1606 ) with 150 men, women, and children sent by Sir Walter Raleigh and found the City of Raleigh & establishes a second English colony at Roanoke and becomes Governor

  • 1587 - August 18 - Elinor White Dare gave birth to a daughter, Virginia Dare, the first child born of English parents in the New World

  • 1587 - August 22 - John White returns to England for more supplies leaving the thriving colony. Seven assistants are left in charge with strict instructions that if the colonists should decide to leave the fort, they would carve their destination on a tree and add a Maltese cross if they had to leave because of attack

  • 1590 - August 15 John White arrives back to Roanoke to find that the settlers have all disappeared. The word "CROATOAN" is found carved into a tree without any crosses or signs of distress. The fate of "The Lost Colony" remains a mystery

  • 1602 - Sir Walter Raleigh sends Samuel Mace of Weymouth on a voyage to Virginia (North Carolina) to explore and search for survivors of the Lost Colony

  • 1606 - 10 April English investors form the London Virginia Company are backed by a royal charter to finance permanent English settlements in the New World

  • 1607 - Virginia Colony established by colonists dispatched by the London Company found the first permanent settlement at Jamestown

  • 1609 - Henry Hudson (1565-1611) English and navigator explores the area1609 - Henry Hudson (1565-1611) English and navigator explores the area

  • 1612 - John Rolfe (1585 - 1622) exports first crop of improved tobacco

  • 1614 - John Rolfe and Pocahontas marry at Jamestown on April 5

  • 1671 - Thomas Batts and Robert Fallam establish English claims to the Ohio Valley

• Facts about Virginia History - 1700's

  • 1722 - Virginia government allows families to live rent-free for ten years on land owned by the state

  • 1722 - Iroquois surrender claims to land south of the Ohio River in addition to counties in the eastern panhandle

• 1756 - 1763 - The Seven Years War (French and Indian War) due to disputes over land is won by Great Britain. France gives England all French territory east of the Mississippi River, except New Orleans. The Spanish give up east and west Florida to the English in return for Cuba.

• 1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies

• July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

• July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

• September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

• Facts about the History of West Virginia History - The 1800's

  • 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but
    confirmed America's Independence

  • 1861 - West Virginia was part of Virginia  until the area refused to endorse the ordinance of secession

• Facts about the History of West Virginia History - The American Civil War

  • 1861 - 1865 The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in
    motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a
    known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The
    initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida,
    Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.
    These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. The
    bombardment of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War.
    The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy

  • 1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

  • 1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

• Origin of the name - Until 1861 West Virginia was part of the State of Virginia which was named to honor Queen Elizabeth I of England, referred to as the "Virgin Queen."

The facts about the History of West Virginia provide concise details and a timeline crammed with historical facts and dates about important people, including State leaders and explorers with all of the major events and wars which effected the State. The early history and timeline of West Virginia providing dates, facts and info about the history of the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, facts about the Indian Wars, the Civil War and facts about the Spanish American War. All of these important and significant facts about the State played a vital part in the History of West Virginia.

Timeline and Facts about the History of West Virginia
Important, interesting and fast facts, timeline and info about the History of West Virginia! We have fast facts & details about all the main historical information and timeline you will require about West Virginia! Find out the important historical information about the History of West Virginia - its leaders, Native Indians, pioneers, explorers and settlers! Answers to all of your questions with facts and a timeline about the History of West Virginia covering a whole host of topics and interesting information. We believe that the concise data and timeline provided about the History of West Virginia is full of interesting information about this great American State! Timeline and History info about the Seven Years War, the American Revolution, the Indian Wars, the Civil War and the Spanish American War. A Timeline of Events in the History of America and West Virginia. Great for homework, or projects, an ideal Educational Resource for " The Mountain State !"

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