Washington, DC Early History

First Early Inhabitants of Washington, DC

Early history examines the archaeological record that tells the story of the first inhabitants of Washington, DC. Learn about the prehistory and culture of the first early inhabitants, and what lessons it might teach us about the early history of Washington, DC.

Washington, DC First Early Inhabitants

• 10,000 BC - First humans arrived by this date in the land
• 1,000 BC - Native-American introduction of pottery.
• 800 AD - Native-American introduction of domesticated plants; bow and arrow came into use.
• 1688 - 1763 -The French and Indian Wars between France and Great Britain for lands in North America consisting of King William's War (1688-1699), Queen Anne's War (1702-1713), King George's War (1744 - 1748) and the French and Indian War aka the Seven Years War (1754-1763)
• 1688 - 1699 - King William's War (part of the French and Indian Wars) between France and the Wabanaki Confederacy and England and the Iroquois Confederacy. Peace Treaty made at Pemaquid. August 11,1693. and was ratified on Jan. 7. 1699
• 1702 -1713 -  Queen Anne's War (part of the French and Indian Wars) between the French and Spanish colonies allied with the Wabanaki Confederacy, Mohawk, Choctaw, Timucua, Apalachee and Natchez tribes against the British colonies allied with the Muscogee (Creek), Chickasaw and Yamasee tribes.
• 1744 - 1748 - King George's War (part of the French and Indian Wars) between the French colonies allied with the Wabanaki Confederacy and the British colonies allied with Iroquois Confederacy
• 1754 1763 - The French Indian War is won by Great Britain against the French so ending the series of conflicts known as the French and Indian Wars
• 1763 - Treaty of Paris

Early History of Native Americans in Washington, DC

The Indigenous People of Washington, DC

When European settlers first visited the area that is now Washington D.C., Piscataway Native Americans lived in the area. During the late 1600s, many of the Native Americans moved west and white farmers and plantation owners settled the new colony of Virginia. In 1749, Alexandria was established as the first town in the area.