Europeans Compete in North America Mrs. Straka
In the 1500s, Europe was in the middle of a huge cultural change ---the Renaissance Changes were called for in the Catholic Church A new movement, The Protestant Reformation begins. The cultural changes in Europe are going to fuel other problems that lead to struggles in the Americas Cultural Changes
By 1530 many European states had split with the Roman Catholic Church to form Protestant churches. English Protestants found support in King Henry VIII. He was married to Catherine of Aragon (Isabella and Ferdinand’s daughter). Catherine of Aragon did not produce a male heir and so he was seeking to divorce her…. Catholic law does not permit divorce. Therefore he was in favor of Protestant ways. Religious Conflicts
Catherine of Aragon (m. 1509; annulled 1533) - Princess Mary Anne Boleyn- Princess Elizabeth (m. 1533–36; executed) Jane Seymour- Prince Edward (m. 1536–37; her death) Anne of Cleves- No child (m. 6 Jan–9 Jul 1540; annulled) Catherine Howard- No child (m. 1540–41; executed) Catherine Parr- No Child (m. 1543–47; his death) - Henry Henry’s Family Tree
Religious tensions inflamed rivalries between countries. This uncertainty among changing alliances made everyone concerned for their security. Ex. Some countries were even unwilling to depend on one another for trading. This is partially why the Spanish monarchs supported Columbus’s search for the water way to Asia. Everyone was searching for gold to improve their armies. Economic Conflicts
England’s King, Henry VIII died in He was succeeded by his son Edward who died shortly after taking the throne. He was succeeded by Mary I…who wanted to bring back the Roman Catholic Church..but she died too. Elizabeth I then took the throne. She was a protestant. Her rule renewed the rivalry with Roman Catholic Spain. King Phillip II of Spain wanted to make England a Catholic Nation again. Relations were also strained by English raids on Spanish Ships at sea. Spanish Armada
Many of the ships raided were carrying gold from the Americas. The Spanish also resented English assistance to rebels trying to win independence from the Spanish providence of Holland. In 1588, Phillip assembled a fleet of 130 warships known as the Spanish Armada. He wanted to force Elizabeth from the throne. His plan failed. Armada
A fleet of English ships met the Spanish off the coast of France. The smaller faster English ships sank many of the Spanish Ships. Barely half of the Armada returned to Spain. This defeat of the Armada changed the balance of power in Europe. Spain was weakend..so was its control of the seas This enabled countries like England and France to found colonies in America. Armada
An Italian Explorer, John Cabot was interested in finding Asia after Columbus returned home from his first voyage. Cabot thought a more northern route to Asia would be shorter and easier. Spain and Portugal were not interested in funding this… but England was. He ended up in what is present day Canada. People starting figuring out this wasn’t Asia. Asia…Again.
By the 1600s, England, France and the Netherlands had sponsored explorations of North America. The French began to settle in colonies in the 1600s. He established a colony which he called Quebec. He then ventured east and explored a large lake near present day Vermont and New York. New France, as the colony was called, developed differently than New Spain. France in North America
The Spanish had sought gold, silver and other minerals. The French were profiting from fish and furs. The Spanish forced Native Americans into harsh labor The French traded with native Americans for the animal skins they highly valued in Europe. They set up trading posts Many of the French married Indian women and started families. New France
Eventually the French started to farm in large numbers. By 1672, New France has about 5000 Colonists. New France
Native Americans gave the French fur pelts The Europeans gave the Native Americans manufactured goods (cloth, iron pots, tools and guns) Unfortunately, the fur trade had a grave effect on the Native Americans. When alliances formed between tribes and Europeans. It left tribes unhappy which caused fighting. Even worse European contact caused disease. Food chain was weakened by the over trapping of animals. This left land that the native Americans had more useful to Europeans. Impact on Native Americans