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1

Why did European Countries

want colonies in North America?

Cornell Notes • Draw a horizontal line

along the top line of the

paper

• Draw a horizontal line

about 5 or 6 lines up

from the bottom of the

paper

• Draw a vertical line “3

fingers” from the left

red margin line

connecting the 2

horizontal lines

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2

o The desire to reach the east where the goods

were found led to improved navigation

o Italian traders created a monopoly (they controlled prices)

in the Holy Land (Muslim traders would trade only with Italian

traders) o This made goods too expensive for most Europeans

o This led to improved navigation to find an all water

route to bypass the Middle East

a. Magnetic compass - to determine direction

b. Astrolabe – was used to calculate position

using the sun and stars

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c. Sextant - used to determine latitude by pointing

at horizon and using the suns position

d. Caravel - a ship with 3 masts, 2 square sails

and a single triangular sail that moved to catch

crosswinds

• Educated people believed the world was round

a. Portugal-1st to search for an all water route to

Asia

b. They sailed south around Africa

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4

Religion as a Cause • Most western

European nations were Catholic – Catholic church

controlled by the Pope

• Pope & the Church felt it necessary to spread Christianity – Missionaries left

Europe by the thousands to Christianize the world

– European monarchs charted many voyages with this plan

• Spain wants in on the

wealth

– To share in the rich Asian

trade

– Spread Christianity

– Fame

– Gold, Glory, & God

• Christopher Columbus

– Sail west to reach Asia

• King & Queen accept his

proposal

• Believed he found Asia

• Landed on the island of

Hispaniola (Haiti)

– Credited with

discovering the Americas

Spanish Exploration

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• Spain & Portugal fought over new lands

– Almost came to war

• Line of Demarcation

– Line drawn to divide the world between Spain & Portugal

– Portugal protested the placement of the line

• Treaty of Tordesillas

– Moved the Line of Demarcation west

– Portugal able to settle in New World

Land Disputes in the New World

Mercantilism

• Colonies sole purpose to make money for

the mother country

• A favorable balance of trade for mother

country

– Colonies provide raw materials

– Colonies served as new markets for goods made

in the home country

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Religious Rivalry • Reformation of Catholic church

led to a new form of Christianity

(Protestantism)

– Did not accept the Pope

• Caused widespread conflict in

Europe

– England (Protestant) vs Spain

(Catholic)

– Spanish Armada sent to restore

control, but was defeated & allowed

England to colonize North America

Religious Rivalry in North America • Catholics from Spain and French spread

faith among Natives

• Spanish settled in southwest and

southeast America

• French settled in northeast America

• Dutch and English set up Protestant

colonies along Atlantic Coast

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Italians, Dutch, & French

only interested in trading

English fished (originally)

off eastern Canada

They created profitable

industries

Northwest Passage