European Exploration and Settlement

The Beginnings of the “New World”

Background – People in Europe had no knowledge of the AmericasMarco Polo went to China in the late 1200s

Came back with tales of richesEncouraged men to seek a safe sea route to

China

BackgroundRenaissance – a “rebirth” of ideas – Dark

Ages were left behindScience became importantNew inventions and new technology

BackgroundChristopher Columbus – Italian sailor that

wanted to find a western route to ChinaOctober, 1492 – discovered many island in the

Caribbean SeaDiscovered the “New World” – not AmericaOpened the way for many more explorers

BackgroundThe Columbian Exchange – a transfer of

people, plants, animals, and diseases across the Atlantic OceanCorn, potatoes, and chocolate to EuropeDisease (small pox, measles) to Native

AmericansAfrican slaves to the Americas

BackgroundSpain began their conquest of the Americas

by sending conquistadoresCortez defeated the AztecsPizarro defeated the Incas

New SpainSpanish borderlands – by 1600 Spanish

territory – Florida to CaliforniaSoldiers built presidios – fortsCatholic priests built missions to convert the

IndiansNative Americans were treated very badly –

beaten, killed, enslaved, wiped out by disease

New France Jacques Cartier – sent to North America to discover a

Northwest Passage (a shortcut to China) Claimed Canada for France Discovered beaver fur

Champlain – built Quebec Became a base for explorers, soldiers, fur trappers Farmers and settlers stayed home Didn’t conquer the Indians, stayed friends with them

Robert de La Salle – explored the entire length of the Mississippi River – planted a flag and claimed everything west for France and named the area Louisiana

The First English ColoniesJohn Cabot claimed land in the New World for

England in 1497Roanoke – 1st attempt at settlement – failure –

still a mystery

The First English ColoniesJamestown – 1607 – first successful English

colonyLocated in Virginia – hot, swampy, full of

disease-carrying mosquitoes

The First English ColoniesJohn Smith took charge – work or starve

Captured by Powhatan and was to be executedPocahontas saved his life

The First English Colonies“the Starving Time” – Smith went back to

England and the settlers began to starve without his leadership

The First English ColoniesJamestown survived – Pocahontas is

kidnapped and held hostage – she meets and marries John Rolfe

John Rolfe saved Jamestown by growing tobacco

The First English ColoniesWomen and slaves arrive in Jamestown in

1619

New Netherland1609 Henry Hudson discover a river full of fish and claimed

the area for the Dutch (Hudson River)Native Americans sold Manhattan Island for beads,

blankets, and iron pots (value $24)New Amsterdam – Peter Stuyvesant – governorThe English wanted the area – James, Duke of York, took

over the colony without firing a shot