PRESENTATION OUTLINE
In August 1492, Christopher Columbus sailed west with his ships, Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria. After ten week he sighted many other islands. Columbus returned to Spain with many products unknown to Europe. These were coconuts, tobacco, sweet corn, potatoes, and he also came back with tales of dark-skinned native people. He called them Indians because he assumed he was sailing in the Indian Ocean.
In 1497, John Cabot explored for King Henry VII of England. He sailed westward in hopes of finding Asia but landed in present day Newfoundland and Nova Scotia in Canada which he believed to be Northeastern Asia. He claimed the region on behalf of Henry VII and returned to England to receive a large sum of money.
Columbus made three more voyages in 1494 and 1502. He explored Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Trinidad. German Geographer, Martin Waldseemuller accepted the claim of Amerigo Vespucci that he landed on the American mainland before Columbus. In 1507, Waldseemuller published a book in which he named the new land America.
In 1513, Spain landed near St. Augustine. They also sent more conquistadors to Florida. They wanted to control the new land. In 1524, French man Giovanni da Verrazano commissioned to locate a Northwest passage around North American to India.
In 1528, Panfilo de Narvaez landed near Tampa Bay to start a settlement. He found gold and started an expedition to look for more riches. He captured American Indians and made them work as guides. He stole Indian crops and didn't find any more gold. Him and his men drowned sailing to Mexico shortly after.
In 1539, Hernando de Soto sailed to Florida to start a settlement. He also landed near Tampa Bay but gave up his settlement plans when he heard about riches to the North. Hernando's men killed, kidnapped, and enslaved the American Indians. The Indians fought back and Hernando and his men traveled North out of Florida. He was still looking for gold when he died.
In 1562, another Frenchmen, Jean Ribault, headed an expedition that explored the St. John's River in Florida like many other Frenchmen sailed to Florida before him. His ventures were also followed by many others but soon after the Spanish pushed France out of Florida. The French went north and west.
People from Spain were the first Europeans to build a colony in America. Sir Raleigh was one of them. In 1584, England was in a race with Spain to start new colonies in the world. Raleigh sent over 108 men but had failed. Three years later he sent 117 men, women, and children to America.
John White was one of them and his daughter Eleanor Dare had the first English baby born in America. Her name was Virginia Dare. John had returned to England for supplies but Spain was having a war with England so there were no ships for three years. When he finally returned the entire colony had disappeared and what happened to them remains a mystery. This colony is known as the Lost Colony Of Roanoke.
Samuel Champlain in 1603, was told by French Fur Companies to settle regions in Eastern Canada like Acadia (Nova Scotia). He made several trips to North America and explored the Bay of Fundy. He established the settlement we now call Quebec and the trading post in Montreal. Champlain became known as the father of "New France."
In 1606, Virginia Company of London sold shares of ownership or stocks to the New World. With selling stocks they were able to share the cost of starting a new colony. Stockholders made lots of money. The rich and wealthy were able to but the stocks but if you were poor and wanted to go to America you had to promise to give the company part of any gold or silver. This was the colony of Jamestown after King James I.
Henry Hudson took on three voyages to find a northeast passageway to Asia. His first two were unsuccessful in 1607 and in 1608. His third one in 1609 was financed by Dutch East India Company. After weeks of cold weather and rough water in the Barents Sea, Hudson's crew was mutinied and forced him to turn the ship southwest and ended up in New York Bay. He spent the next few months exploring the river that has his name. He established settlements in New York City and in Albany and became involved in the fur trade.
In 1610, Henry Hudson took a fourth voyage to find a Northwest passage to Asia. While traveling in the Hudson Bay his ship became frozen in ice. His ship once again mutinied. Hudson and some of his men went in a smaller boat and set off but were never seen again.
The first attempt by Europeans to colonize the New World occurred around a.d. 1000 when the Vikings sailed from the British aisles to Greenland. They established a colony and then moved on to Labrador, the Baffin Islands, and finally Newfoundland.
Marco Polo never set foot in North America, he only motivated European Explorers who did.
The Spanish King sent explorers to America for certain reasons. Those reasons were to claim land, find riches, and fame. They also journeyed there to convert American Indians to Catholic Religion which was Spain's main religion. Ponce de Leon was the first Spanish conquistador to arrive in Florida. He wanted to find the same things the King did.
All four countries, France, Spain, Portugal, and England, wanted to colonize the New World for the same reasons. To find gold, silver and raw materials to sell in Europe and Asia. Once again to convert the Indians.
Some explorers were motivated by their natural curiosity and others were just in it for the money. European explorers that were the younger sons came to America to get land because in European countries the first born son inherits all of the father's land. A lot of explorers came for the forests, animals, water, and rich farmland.
Europeans came to the New World to explore and visit. Some visitors were fishermen looking for fish. Later traders arrived to trade tools, blankets, and more goods with the Indians. They gave them fur in return.
Most England men and women had to worship like how the King worships and how the King ordered them to. Those men and women came to America to worship in their own way. They also came to bring the Indians Christianity. For a benefit Catholics established a colony in Maryland in order to freely practice their religion.
People thought America was filled with jewels and gold. They wanted to come and explore to see if they were right and become rich.
Explorers like the excitement and adventure of exploring and the idea of living in a faraway land so they came to America. They had the chance to start a new life with their families. Coming to America and establishing settlements opened new fur trading colonies. America has lots of farmland and many many explorers wanted land of their own.
Middle colonies promised many people land and explorers saw that as their chance to get ahead. Virginia and Carolina colonies saw the New World as their chance to make money off of the rich fertile land.
There was a group sent away from England for not being able to pay their bills. They were given land in the New World. This was the place the poor could make a new life for themselves. This place was called Georgia.
