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Columbian Exchange

Let’s take a step back in time when explorers came to America. Do you remember that European monarchs sent explorers on expeditions to claim land and make a profit for their country? These discoveries resulted in the exchange of crops and resources between what the Europeans called the New World (North and South America) and the Old World (Europe, Africa, Asia).

Before long, countries like Spain, France and England were claiming land in the New World. They were all in a race to become wealthy and powerful. Some of them were establishing colonies and growing crops. Colonies are settlements that are far from the country that rules them. The Europeans grew crops to send back to their home country. The people in the Old World were excited to try the new crops. Having corn, tobacco, cocoa, and potatoes changed the lifestyles in Europe. Imagine never having cocoa before and then tasting it for the first time. This left them wanting even more.

In exchange, European countries were sending over horses, cattle, and sugarcane to the New World. Some of these goods were used to trade with the Indigenous peoples who already lived on the land. This had a huge impact on transportation in the New World. People now had a faster means to migrate and hunt. However, the Old World not only sent people, animals, and plants. They also sent diseases like smallpox with them. Since the Indigenous peoples were not accustomed to diseases, a large population of them suffered and died.

The natives of the New World had even more hardships to face. The Indigenous peoples were forced to do many things against their will. Some were driven off their land and compelled to work on farms to help Europeans grow crops. Spaniards even forced many of the native peoples to give up their own religious beliefs to learn Christianity. The suffering of the Indigenous peoples was caused by European greed and their longing for power.

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Spain was a powerful nation and sent many explorers over to the New World to claim land, search for gold, and build missions. They were claiming land mostly in Mexico and what today is the southern United States. Hernando DeSoto was a cruel explorer who would defeat anyone in his way. He didn’t care if the Indigenous peoples were the first ones to live on the land. He wanted the land and he was determined to become recognized for helping Spain continue to grow and become more powerful and wealthy. Many other Spanish explorers and soldiers mirrored his vision. They conquered whole villages and captured some of the surviving natives.

Spain was the first European country to use Indigenous peoples as slaves. Some of the slaves were forced to work for long, strenuous days on the plantations where they tended the crops. Spain’s government traded the crops for economic growth. The main cash crops were sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, cocoa, and cotton. The natives were also sent to mine for gold where they often encountered harsh working conditions. Many people died not only from these poor working conditions, but from hunger as well.

Other native peoples were sent to missions where Spain tried to convert them to Christianity. The Roman Catholic Church was an important part of Spain’s everyday life, and they wanted to expand their religion into the New World. Since the settlers were governed by Viceroys (representatives of the King who enforced the Spanish laws), the settlers had to obey the laws and could not make up their own. The only religion allowed was Catholicism. If you were Protestant, you were persecuted or driven out of settlements in the New World. You did not have a choice.

Spain’s malicious behavior towards the natives and their own citizens continued for many years. Do you think there would have been a different outcome if Hernando DeSoto’s actions were different?

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Spain in the New World

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France was sending explorers over to the New World to claim land and establish a fur trade. Robert LaSalle was a famous explorer who established fur trade routes up and down the Mississippi. At first, the French King wasn’t pleased with LaSalle’s findings, but quickly changed his mind when he realized LaSalle had control of the only fur trading waters that weren’t freezing over! LaSalle paved the way for France to send other explorers and settlers to the area. They were settling in the middle of the New World, which became the Louisiana Territory. France attempted to develop plantations in these territories. Sadly, the land was not fertileenough to keep an abundance of crops growing. Fur trade continued to be their ticket to wealth in the New World.

French settlers in the New World had no say in the political or religious decisions made by France. France’s government was a royal colony (ruled by the king) and New France had to abide by the same government rules. Later, the Louisiana territory became a proprietary colony where it was ruled by one owner appointed by the king. French colonists also had no voice in religious practices. Although many Protestants played a role in the founding of New France, colonial life was being controlled by the Catholics.

France was clever when developing relationships with the Indigenous peoples. At first France tried to convert the natives to become Catholics, but then decided to make alliances with them. This would later benefit France in many ways. Having natives help them establish fur trade routes and communicate with other native groups for trading proved to be the solution to boost economic growth for France. Another way the Indigenous peoples demonstrated their alliance was when France went to war with Britain. France was fortunate to have the native people fighting alongside them.

Think outside the box: Do you wonder what France did with all their furs? Why do you think fur trade was so demanding back then?

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France in the New World

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England in the New World

England sent John Cabot, an Italian explorer, to claim land in America. He claimed much of the land in the northern part of America. Although he thought he was in Asia, his expedition was successful when he discovered cod-fishing grounds.

Other journeys were made by the British Pilgrims and Puritans to obtain religious freedom. They were landing on the eastern coast of United States. England was a religious nation steadfast in the belief that all citizens were required to belong to the Church of England. The Pilgrims (who were not members of the Church of England) wanted freedom to practice their own religion. The Puritans wanted to “purify” or reform the Church of England. Both groups chanced their lives to sail to America to get away from the Church of England.

Resources were plentiful in the territories claimed for England. The land was fertile for growing crops such as tobacco and rice. They learned how to grow thecrops from the Indigenous peoples. The waters provided an abundance of fish. In addition to these crops and fish being traded, they were also exported for financial gains. The economic growth in the England territories began to soar.

England’s political and religious rights for their settlers were different than the other countries settling in the Americas. British settlers were permitted to set up their own governments and laws. They could hold meetings, elect representatives, and tax themselves. England allowed this self-government as long as the settlers didn’t take up arms against the Crown. British colonists were also permitted to practice their own religion. They did not have to abide by the Church of England.

Originally, England was friendly with the Indigenous peoples of the land. This was helpful for trading and growing crops. Later, greed got the best of some Englishmen. They wanted more than what the Indigenous peoples were giving them. The Englishmen wanted more wealth and power. This caused hostile conflicts between England and the Indigenous peoples. How would it have been different if England remained friendly with the natives?

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EnglandThey came for wealth and religious freedom. They were settling in eastern U.S. and Canada.

Religion- Pilgrims- people who wanted to get away from the church of EnglandPuritans- wanted to “purify” or reform the Church

Government- They were permitted to set up their own governments, hold meetings, and tax themselves as long as they didn’t take up arms against the Crown.

Relationship with Indigenous peoples- At first, English were friendly for trading, but greed led to conflicts with them.

Economic Opportunity- Farming, fishing, trading, exports of tobacco, rice, fish.

FranceThey wanted to establish fur trade. They were settling in the middle of the U.S.-Louisiana Territory.

Religion- Catholics controlled the French colonial life

Government-It was a royal colony- ruled by the king. Later, Louisiana was a proprietary colony- ruled by one owner appointed by the king. Citizens had no political rights.

Relationship with Indigenous peoples-The French tried to convert them to Catholicism. French settlers also became allies with the natives which helped with fur trading and wars with the British.

Economic Opportunity- Fur Trade

SpainThey had a desire for more riches especially gold! They were settling in southern U.S. and Mexico.

Religion- Catholics only. Protestants were persecuted and driven out.

Government- They were governed by viceroys (representative for the king). Settlers had to obey the laws and couldn’t make their own.

Relationship with Indigenous peoples-Missions were formed to convert them to Christianity. Soldiers wanted to kill them. Spain was the first to use them as slaves in mines and plantations.

Economic Opportunity- gold mining, sugarcane, tobacco, coffee, cocoa, cotton.

European Settlements in North America Study Guide

Test date_____________

European Settlements

Name ______________________________________

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Southern Colonies

Learn how to do it right, Mr. Raleigh! Walter Raleigh may not have known the benefits of teaching his men to communicate with the Indigenous peoples. His team should have worked peacefully with them. In 1585, Queen Elizabeth allowed Raleigh to send over 100 men from England to Roanoke Island (off the coast of North Carolina) after two of his explorers found it to be a perfect place for a settlement. However, they were not friendly with the native people in that area and Raleigh’s men even killed their chief. Since the explorers arrived too late to harvest crops and their supplies were dwindling, they went back home a year later. After they left, fifteen other men showed up with supplies and stayed in the fort.

Raleigh was angry about the desertion and decided to hire Simon Fernandez to transport over 100 more people (including women and children) to start a more permanent settlement close by in Chesapeake Bay. First, he instructed them to check on the men at the fort. John White was put in charge and brought his family along. Upon arrival in 1587, they found out the men in the fort were killed by some of the natives. Fernandez demanded they settle in Roanoke Island instead of Chesapeake Bay because he wanted to get back to a dispute in Europe between Spain and England. The settlers followed Fernandez’s orders despite the concern for their fate. Not long after getting settled in Roanoke Island, John White hesitantly left with Fernandez to get more supplies. They arrived in England to find out Spain had invaded England. It took England two years to defeat the Spanish and when White returned to Roanoke in 1590, he had a grave discovery. Nobody was there! It was like they disappeared into thin air. The word “CROATOAN” was carved on a tree nearby. Croatoan was a local tribe. White desperately went to find the Croatoan village, but a hurricane arose which forced him to return to England. White never got to see his family again because the funds weren’t there for more exploration. They called it “The Lost Colony.” What do you think happened?

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Twenty years later in 1607, a group of over 100 men landed on the banks of Virginia’s James River which was not healthy to drink. They were immediately attacked by some of the natives but were determined to stay. Their leader, John Smith, ordered them to build a fort for protection. Although the Indigenous peoples didn’t inhabit the land, they hunted on it. A severe winter pounded the English settlement. Less than half the men were left. They were running out of food and getting sick. Chief Powhatan sent gifts of food, which helped the men endure the hardships. Some say it also aided to the establishment of Jamestown, America’s first permanent English colony.

Tension grew between the settlers and the Powhatan nation. Captain Smith and other men went in search of food when Smith was captured and taken to Chief Powhatan. His daughter, Pocahontas, was his favorite child. She believed in peace and Smith claims that she saved his life. Pocahontas was known as being undisciplined and playful. She befriended the Jamestown settlers, brought them food, warned them of ambushes, and taught them many things. The settlers learned to grow tobacco, which turned into a profitable business.

Captain Smith returned to England in 1609 when he became ill, and Pocahontas stopped visiting the settlement. Then the relations between the settlers and the Powhatan nation weakened. Four years later when John Smith died,Pocahontas came back to visit. She was imprisoned because her father had captured some of the settlers and weapons. The settlers moved Pocahontas to another settlement and forced her to convert to Christianity. That is where she met John Rolfe and married him in 1614. Again, she encouraged peace between the English and the Powhatan nation.

In addition to Virginia, Maryland, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina were also being colonized. The south had a long growing season, mild weather, fertile land, and plenty of rain. Tobacco, along with rice and indigo (used to make blue dye), were the most profitable crops which resulted in more plantations. 1619 was a big year in Jamestown. The first elected assembly was established. It was called the House of Burgesses. Then African American workers, called indentured servants, arrived by boat to work a plot of land to later own it. Other indentured servants came to work to pay for their voyage to the New World. Workers were needed in the Southern Colonies because they relied on cash crops to boost their economy. Slavery also became prevalent in the south. The settlers in the south first put the natives into slavery but they started to die off from being overworked and contracting diseases. That is when settlers went to Africa and captured people to work for them against their will. Pocahontas’s forever wish was peace between all the people in America.

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New England Colonies

Duck for cover! The high winds just blew over the sail and the storms are making our ship rock back and forth. That is what happened to my family on the Mayflower back in 1620. My parents had to find ways to protect themselves during bad weather. They also had to live on salted beef, dried biscuits called “hard tack,” and other dried vegetables until they were able to cook on the deck. It took over two months to sail from England to the New World. We were lucky though. There were over a hundred of us and only one death occurred. There was also one baby born on our journey. It was me! I was born on the Mayflower. My parents named me Oceanus Hopkins.

Some of us on board were Separatists, or Pilgrims. We were coming to the New World for religious freedom. In England, you had to belong to the Church of England. We wanted to separate ourselves from that rule and worship our own way. That is how our adventure began.

We planned to settle close to Jamestown, Virginia since they have had an established settlement for thirteen years. Then the storm hit and caused our ship to get off course. We landed in Cape Cod instead. This was much farther north. We traveled across Massachusetts Bay to a rocky harbor called Plymouth. There was a humungous rock that we named Plymouth Rock that still sits there today! We decided to stay and establish our own colony.

Since our colony was not within the jurisdiction of Jamestown, we decided to create a self-government. We took a majority vote and later had town meetings and elected representatives. We had a Meeting House in the center of town for church and meetings. My parents signed the Mayflower Compact. This was a way to keep order and develop laws for the new colony. It showed our loyalty to the King and it was the very first written constitution. It was the beginning of democracy in the New World.

Living in this New World was a very tough adjustment. Half of our friends died from the harsh weather, starvation, and disease. Then a miracle happened! One

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of the Indigenous people named Squanto showed up and spoke English. Squanto taught us how to hunt local animals, gather shellfish, extract sap from maple trees, and grow crops like beans, corn, and squash. Even with our rocky soil, he showed us how to keep the crops alive by fertilizing with dead fish. We would have never thought to do that. He also taught us which plants were poisonous and helped us form an alliance with the local Wampanoag tribe.

The Wampanoag people occupied this area for thousands of years. They were a sophisticated society with their own government, religious beliefs, knowledge system, and culture. They were familiar with the world around them. They knew weather patterns, animal behaviors, cycles of plant life, water supply, and the seasons. This deep understanding of the environment helped them become very successful hunters, farmers, and fishermen. Giving thanks was a part of their daily life.

With the abundance of food and no longer starving, we celebrated our first Thanksgiving in our colony. Since we were a religious community, Thanksgiving was a term we used for prayer and fasting (not eating). We were grateful to be alive and for Squanto’s generosity. After our first successful harvest in the fall of 1621, Governor William Bradford held a celebration feast. He invited Squanto, Chief Massasoit, and 90 Wampanoag people. He wanted to show thanks and negotiate a treaty that would secure land. Due to offering charity to the host, the Wampanog ended up bringing most of the food for the feast. The celebration lasted three days where there was peace and friendship. Unfortunately, this didn’t last. The Wampanogs didn’t trust the white man and we thought the natives were heathens. Despite Squanto’s efforts, we soon became enemies at war.

Along with our colony, Massachusetts Bay, more colonies were starting to be established in New England. They were Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Our economy mostly thrived on ship building, fur trading, fishing, and whale hunting. We were fortunate to have ocean waters, fertile soil, forests, and rivers that ran fast to make power for the mills.

I like hearing my parents tell the story of my birth on the Mayflower. They were so brave to come to this New World to make a better place for me. They built a productive settlement. Now, hundreds of years later, it is still thriving. And Thanksgiving is celebrated the third Thursday of November in America.

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Middle Colonies

Let me go! I should not be arrested and put into prison for practicing the Quaker religion! I realize that I live in England and should worship with the Church of England, but seriously! My name is William Penn and even my father has a hard time accepting the fact that I am a Quaker. As a Quaker, we obey the “inner light,” which we believe to come directly from God. We refuse to bow or take off our hats to other men, and we will not take up arms. Once I got out of prison, I knew I needed a new plan. Since even the Puritans in the New England colonies didn’t accept us, King Charles II decided in 1681 to give me land in the New World that was southwest of New Jersey. He did this because he owed my deceased father from a prior loan. I thought I would call the new land Sylvania which means “woods” but later called it Pennsylvania. In this new land, I guaranteed free and fair trial by jury, freedom from unjust imprisonments, as well as freedom of religion and elections. This brought a wide variety of nations and people to my land.

Other Middle Colonies were New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. This “middle zone” was truly in the middle of the 13 colonies. We had some ship building, like New England, and some large farms like the Southern plantations. We were fortunate to have rivers, forests, rich farmlands, and fertile soil. We were most known for producing iron and being the “bread basket” colony. We produced wheat and used windmills to mill flour for bread. Since we were centrally located, we were a very important distribution center. We were able to ship imports out to the other colonies. That’s why New York and Philadelphia grew at amazing rates!

I worked to have a good relationship with the Indigenous peoples which proved to be a smart choice. I tried to learn their languages so we could communicate. This helped their willingness to trade. I was once quoted as saying, “We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good-will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. We are the same as if one man’s body was to be divided into two parts; we are of one flesh and one blood.”

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13 ORIGINAL COLONIES

Found Colony Statehood

1607 Virginia June 25, 1788

1620 Massachusetts February 6, 1788

1626 New York July 26, 1788

1634 Maryland April 28, 1788

1636 Rhode Island May 29, 1790

1636 Connecticut January 9, 1788

1638 New Hampshire June 21, 1788

1638 Delaware December 7, 1787

1653 North Carolina November 21, 1789

1663 South Carolina May 23, 1788

1664 New Jersey December 18, 1787

1681 Pennsylvania December 12, 1787

1732 Georgia January 2, 1788

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The Triangular Trade RouteKeep in mind that this is only one of the routes. There was trading going back and forth between the different countries.

Europe

Africa

NorthAmerica

SouthAmerica

Tobacco, molasses, coffee, sugar

Horses, guns, pots, pans

African slaves, Gold dust

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Study Guide for Colonization (cont.)

What were the relationships among the Indigenous peoples, Europeans and Africans during trade?Europeans needed Natives for communication and growing crops. Europeans needed Africans to tend to their crops. They were forced to work against their will.

How did this triangle trade impact the economy of North America? 1. It provided plantation owners with skilled workers2. The slaves brought agriculture & mining skills learned in Africa to the

Americas.3. They made money from selling rum, tobacco, indigo and rice to

Europeans in exchange for slaves.

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