Efforts to derive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are complicated by the fact that embryonic hematopoiesis consists of two programs, primitive and definitive, that differ in developmental potential. As only definitive hematopoiesis generates HSCs, understanding how this program develops is essential for being able to produce this cell population in vitro. Here we show that both hematopoietic programs transition through hemogenic endothelial intermediates and develop from KDR⁺CD34⁻CD144⁻ progenitors that are distinguished by CD235a expression. Generation of primitive progenitors (KDR⁺CD235a⁺) depends on stage-specific activin-nodal signaling and inhibition of the Wnt–β-catenin pathway, whereas specification of definitive progenitors (KDR⁺CD235a⁻) requires Wnt–β-catenin signaling during this same time frame. Together, these findings establish simple selective differentiation strategies for the generation of primitive or definitive hematopoietic progenitors by Wnt–β-catenin manipulation, and in doing so provide access to enriched populations for future studies on hPSC-derived hematopoietic development.