Answer:
1. The Discovery of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492 is considered one of the most important events leading up to the founding of America. It marked the beginning of European exploration and colonization of the Americas and opened the way for the establishment of permanent settlements and the development of trade and economic ties between Europe and the Americas.
2. The Establishment of the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo in 1496, the first permanent European settlement in the Americas, is considered another important event. It was a significant step in the process of European colonization of the Americas and established Spain as the dominant colonial power in the region.
3. The Founding of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1607, was the first successful English colony in the Americas and marked the beginning of British colonization of the region. It was an important event as it established the English presence in the Americas and laid the foundation for the future development of the thirteen colonies.
4. The Arrival of the Mayflower and the founding of the Plymouth Colony in 1620 is another important event. The Pilgrims, who arrived on the Mayflower, were the first group of English settlers to come to America for religious reasons, and their colony established the principle of religious freedom in America.
5. The signing of the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494, which divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Spain and Portugal is an important event. It established the legal framework for the division of the Americas between the two colonial powers and set the stage for the competition and conflict that would shape the history of the region.
6. Christopher Columbus, the first European to discover America, is considered one of the most influential people leading up to the founding of America.
7. Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who led the conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521, is considered another influential person. He played a key role in the establishment of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico and Central America.
8. John Smith, an English soldier, and explorer who played a key role in the establishment and survival of the Jamestown colony, is considered an influential person.
9. William Bradford, a leader of the Plymouth Colony, is considered an influential person. He played a key role in the establishment and development of the colony, and his writings provide valuable insights into the early years of the colony.
10. King James I of England, who issued the charter for the Virginia Company, which founded the Jamestown colony, and King Philip II of Spain, who financed many of the early explorations and colonization efforts in the Americas, are considered influential people. They provided the political and financial support that was essential for the establishment of the colonies.
I chose these events and people because they were significant in shaping the political, economic, and cultural landscape of the Americas and laid the foundation for the development of the thirteen colonies that would eventually become the United States of America.
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