An Age of Exploration & Expansion America’s Beginnings

First Encounters Christopher Columbus reaches N. America in 1492, funded by Spain Within 75 years, 90% of the Native American population dies of disease Spain grows rich by establishing colonies

Advantages/disadvantages?

New Products & New Ideas Columbian Exchange: the exchange of goods and ideas between the Old World and the New World New foods: corn, tomato, potato (to Europe) New medicines: herbs, barks (to Europe) New habits: smoking (to Europe) New religions: Christianity (to America) New methods: horses, cattle (to America)

Capitalism and Colonies Growth of slavery: large plantations emerge; require cheap, plentiful labor Spanish tried to enslave N. Americans Most escaped, died Africans are enslaved for colonies in Caribbean and N. America Capitalism allowed European investors to pool their money for large projects Europeans sell raw materials for gold

Mercantilism 1. European bank lends money to investors 2. Investors pool their money to form a company, fund a voyage to America Plymouth (1620) New Netherlands (1626) 3. Members of voyage reach America (hopefully) and plant crops/fish/collect furs or timber Jamestown (1606) 4. American colonists provide raw materials to investors – investors sell & earn a profit (hopefully)

Early Attempts Jamestown Colony Plymouth Colony 1606: charter for “Virginia Company” granted by King James of England Tobacco plantations Representative government established in 1619 (House of Burgesses) Plymouth Colony 1620 Pilgrims sail on Mayflower from England seeking religious freedom (in Virginia) Land in Massachusetts (oops!) and struggle to survive