A member of the Virginia gentry who led a rebellion against the colonial government in the 17th century. His actions were driven by ambitions of power and changes to frontier policies.

Governor of Virginia during a tumultuous period in the 17th century. Known for his alliances with wealthy planters and opposition to aggressive Indian policies due to trading interests.

A British general during the Seven Years’ War. His adherence to traditional warfare tactics and subsequent death had significant implications for young officer George Washington.

A Spanish explorer who lived among Indigenous peoples after being captured. His reports inadvertently inspired further destructive explorations in North America.

A French explorer who founded Quebec and established a strategic network of alliances with Indigenous groups, including the Huron, as part of the New France colony.

An English monarch known for his arbitrary rule and conflicts with Parliament. His governance influenced migrations to the Americas during his reign.

An English king who reestablished royal control over the colonies through Acts like the Navigation Acts and expanded English territorial claims in North America.

A Genoese navigator whose voyages across the Atlantic, sponsored by Spain, initiated extensive European exploration and colonization of the Americas.

A Spanish conquistador who undertook expeditions into the American interior in search of mythical wealth, inspired by tales from Cabeza de Vaca.

A prominent conquistador who played a crucial role in the fall of the Aztec Empire, securing Spanish dominance in parts of the Americas.

An English king who established the Church of England, inciting religious migrations to the New World due to increased dissent from Puritans.

An English monarch whose attempts to centralize control over the colonies led to unpopular policies and his eventual overthrow during the Glorious Revolution.

The French king who maintained tight control over New France while engaging in significant European conflicts, including the War of the Spanish Succession.

An Indigenous leader known as King Philip, who led a significant uprising against colonial settlers in the northeastern colonies.

A Narragansett leader who advocated for a unified Indigenous resistance against European colonization, ultimately captured and killed by conflicting forces.

A Quaker and the founder of Pennsylvania, Penn created a colony based on principles of religious tolerance and fair governance.

Leader of an Indigenous confederacy in the region of the first English settlements, such as Jamestown, known for interactions with John Smith and Pocahontas.

An English captain instrumental in the early survival of the Jamestown colony. His writings on America encouraged further English migration.

A young officer whose early military experiences in the Seven Years’ War would set the foundation for his later leadership and prominence.

A charismatic preacher whose revivalist methods and powerful oratory marked him as a leader in the evangelical movement of the time period.

An English king who rose to power during the Glorious Revolution. His reign included moderating former colonial policies and engaging in military conflicts with France.

A leading figure in the Puritan migration to America and an influential governor in the establishment of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, advocating the "City on a Hill" ideal.