1619 was a very busy year in and around Jamestown, Virginia. The business of getting a colony up and running was in full swing, and more than a decade after the first colonists arrived, they were still hard at work. Some of the momentous tasks taken on during the latter half of 1619 include beginning official self-governance, the landing of the first documented Africans in Virginia, the beginning of an official recruitment drive for colonial women, and the stated intention of beginning an annual Thanksgiving tradition. The schedule would have looked something like this:

• From July 30 - August 4, 1619, the first representative legislative assembly took place in Jamestown.

• In August of 1619, Africans were brought to Virginia and sold.

• In November of 1619, the Virginia Company began actively recruiting females to provide stability to their colony.

• December 4, 1619, settlers arrived at Berkeley and presumably held the first official Thanksgiving celebration.

These milestones resonated through our history and still impact what the United States is today. Investigate the 400-year-old history of our nation, its government, and its people. The following suggested titles might help you get started.