They must have either lived in Colonial America or influenced Colonial American settlement. Why are they important? How did they shape the Era? Focus on the years 1600-1763. -Consider the questions: how did they influence Colonial American History? Did they change History for the better or worse? Make sure you are NOT writing a biography- he/she was born, lived, married, and died. Tell me why the person was important to American History. Saying that they were born in Pennsylvania in 1754 does not tell me why they were important and should be remembered as a Historic figure.