What Happened in American History in 1633?

In the year 1633, several significant events took place in American history. Let’s take a closer look at what happened in this year.

Colonial America

  • In February of 1633, the first recorded instance of a piano being played in colonial America occurred in Massachusetts. A ship arriving from London brought the instrument.
  • That same month, English colonial administrator John Winthrop established a settlement at Shawmut Peninsula, which would eventually become Boston.
  • In April of 1633, Dutch settlers founded the town of Wiltwyck (now Kingston) in present-day New York.

Religion

Religion played a significant role in American life in 1633:

  • The Puritan Colony of Massachusetts continued to thrive under Governor John Winthrop. The Puritans were strict Calvinists who believed in predestination and sought to create a society based on their religious values.
  • In Maryland, Catholics faced persecution from Protestants who wanted to restrict their religious freedom.

    The colony’s founder, Lord Baltimore, had granted religious freedom to all Christians, but this did not stop tensions from rising between Catholics and Protestants.

  • The Quakers also began to gain a foothold in America during this time. In England, Quakers faced persecution for their beliefs and practices, but many still immigrated to the colonies seeking religious freedom.

Science and Exploration

The early seventeenth century was an exciting time for scientific discovery and exploration. In 1633:

  • The Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was put on trial by the Roman Catholic Church for his support of heliocentrism, the idea that the Earth revolves around the sun. He was found guilty of heresy and placed under house arrest for the rest of his life.
  • The English astronomer Thomas Harriot published a book on his observations of the Moon.
  • The Dutch explorer Anthony van Diemen became governor-general of the Dutch East Indies and began to expand Dutch trading posts in Asia.

Conclusion

As we can see, 1633 was a year of significant events in American history. From colonial settlements to religious tensions to scientific discoveries, this year set the stage for future developments in America and beyond.