TCI chapter 2 – European Exploration & Settlement Colonial Heritage TCI chapter 2 – European Exploration & Settlement

Native American areas prior to colonization

Discovery and Competition Explorers like Christopher Columbus were looking for a westward route to Asia when they stumbled onto the American continents. European nations competed to claim these new lands and the riches they might contain.

Spain Columbus explored on behalf of King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella, Spain West with 3 ships; landed in Caribbean (now know) Claimed island, renamed San Salvador; Mistakenly believing that he had reached the Indies, Columbus called these people Indians. introduced crops such as wheat and rice to these lands, as well as domesticated animals like horses, cows, pigs, and sheep Brought germs: smallpox & other diseases decimated current population Columbian Exchange: great transfer of people, plants, animals, and diseases back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean

Middle passage & slavery Slavery: late 1400s-1500s, replacing Indians w/ captured Africans (Middle Passage) Disease infested ships, forcible migration, deplorable work/living conditions Captured & sold for generations Conquistadors: Cortes conquered Aztecs in Mexico, Pizarro conquered Inca in Peru; others migrated & conquered throughout S. America

Spanish borderlands Mexico and Peru – conquistadors found gold and silver riches hoping for still more, they pushed north April 1513 Juan Ponce de León landed on a sunny peninsula of North America - Florida “Seven Cities of Cíbola”  legend sparked new Spanish expeditions N. Am.  old European tale “the streets and houses were decorated with gold and jewels” Coronado Expedition (1540) set out from Mexico City with a large expedition; north onto the Great Plains before giving up the search for golden cities

Spanish borderlands As conquistadors explored new territories, they claimed the areas for Spain.  when rival European nations showed an interest in land, small bands of soldiers were sent to these regions to protect the claims The soldiers lived in walled forts called presidios Catholic missionaries accompanied the soldiers to the borderlands.  Missionaries are religious people, like priests, who try to persuade people to convert to their religion. At first, the Pueblo Indians of New Mexico welcomed the newcomers. Unfortunately, the Spanish repaid the Indians’ kindness with cruelty (enslaved). From Florida to California, some American Indians converted to the Catholic faith.  Unfortunately, wherever the Spanish settled, they brought with them diseases to which native peoples had no resistance.

New France France sent Cartier to explore Atlantic coastline of N. America Goal = find NW Passage (all water route through N. America to Pacific Ocean) No passage but claimed Canada for France Discovered beaver furs – worthy item Settling Champlain formed Quebec French explorers, soldiers, missionaries, & fur trappers Colonizing never took (money & weather = deterrents) Champlain allied with Heron Indians; enemies with Iroquois Marquette & Joliet explored Mississippi River – returned to France 1682 – La Salle claimed Louisiana & everything west of Miss. River as French

Jamestown 1497 – Cabot explored from England to Newfoundland (Eng. Claim) Roanoke – colony est. but disappeared; CROATOAN carved in doorpost 1607-London Company est. Jamestown Swampy peninsula; protect from invasion but could not protect from mosquitoes & N. Americans Settlers = not farmers but gentry; poor survival skills Bartered with N.A.; hunger & disease took toll John Smith: “If any would not work,” announced Smith, “neither should he eat.” Smith almost killed but saved by Pocahontas, daughter of Powhatan Injured by gunpowder explosion, returned to England 1609: Starving Time (famine & drought + winter freeze = high death rate) 440/500 died 1610 – 250 new colonists Soldiers & settlers; kidnapped Pocahontas - married John Rolfe Rolfe had brought tobacco (first major cash crop; propels them to success) Peace between colonists & N. Americans

New netherland HENRY HUDSON: English sailor sponsored by Dutch merchants New Netherland = cut by Hudson River; Dutch settlers followed (present day Albany to Manhattan) Peter Minuit = royal governor; traded pots, beads, etc. to N.A. for land rather than expelling violently; Iroquois Confederacy (alliance of 5 tribes) allied with Dutch Traded for guns; against Huron & French New Amsterdam – Peter Stuyvesant = new Gov. Generally disliked & mean Took over nearby Swedish colony & expanded area Refuge for Jews seeking place to find peace 1664 – Duke of York invaded & claimed New Amsterdam Renamed New York – English colony

Two worlds collide

Multiple cultures impacted