European Settlement

Columbian Exchange Global Exchange of food, livestock, slaves, and diseases. Caused European diets to change as new foods like potatoes, corn, and tomatoes. Slave Trade started with the Portuguese but were brought to the Americas by the Dutch. Diseases like small pox wiped out large populations of Native Americans.

Mercantilism It is the belief that the purpose of the colonies was to make the home country more wealthy and powerful. A nation’s strength depended on its amount of gold and silver. It was important for the country to have more exports than imports

Protestant Reformation Martin Luther, a German monk, boldly called for changes in the Roman Catholic Church. Rejected the authority of the pope. Bible was the only true guide for Christians Faith rather than good deeds was the way to salvation. Caused many people and nations to split from the Catholic Church.

Calvinism John Calvin, a French religious thinker, also broke away from the Catholic Church. He believed that God had already chosen those who would be saved. Influenced the Puritans

Religious Rivalries England and The Netherlands would become Protestant Nations. France and Spain would remain Catholic Nations. Each Nation tried to spread there own religion to the natives in the Americas England defeats the Spanish Armada which allows other European nations to establish colonies in North America

Northwest Passage Europeans wanted to find a sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific that passed through or around North America to reach Asia. This sea route did not exist.

Searching for the Northwest Passage England: 1497, John Cabot (Italian) traveled to present day Newfoundland. France: 1524,Verranzo explored Atlantic coast around the Carolinas. France: 1535, Cartier sailed along the St. Lawrence River. Netherlands/England: 1609 Henry Hudson Discovered Hudson River and Hudson Bay.

French Traders settle in North America France preoccupied with political/religious conflicts at home. In 1608, French Traders sent Samuel de Champlain to set up a settlement in Quebec, Canada. Coureurs de bois- French term for “runners of the woods”, which were independent fur trappers living among the Natives.

French Explorations 1673 Marquette and Joliet travel the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. 1682-La Salle claims the Mississippi Valley for France and named the region Louisiana after King Louis XIV.

New Netherland 1621-The Dutch West India Company set up a permanent colony in the Hudson River valley called New Netherland. 1626-The center of the colony was on the Manhattan Island, which was named New Amsterdam. Peter Minuit was the governor of New Netherland and New Sweden.

England begins to settle in America 1587-Sir Walter Raleigh sent 117 individuals to settle on Roanoke Island. The group was led by John White, whose granddaughter was the 1st English born child in North America. When White returned after sailing home for supplies, he found the settlement deserted. The only traces was the word Croatoan carved in a gate post.

Joint-Stock Companies request charters. Charter-the right to organize settlements in North America by the King. December 1606-The Virginia Company sent 144 settlers to build a new colony. April 1607-Settlers entered Chesapeake Bay and named the colony Jamestown, after King James I.

Jamestown Capt. John Smith was the governor of Jamestown. He forced the colonists to work or they did not eat. When he left to go back to England, only 60 settlers survived the time of starvation.

Prosperity in Jamestown John Rolfe learned how to grow a type of tobacco from seeds from the West Indies. The first crop was sold in England in 1614. Tobacco became a cash crop for Jamestown. Native American relationships grew as well, especially after he married Pocahontas.

House of Burgesses Burgesses-elected representatives. July 30,1619-House of Burgesses was established which allowed the settlers to send two representatives to an assembly to make local laws.

Jamestown becomes 1st royal colony of England. 1619-Dutch ship brought 1st African slaves to North America. Women were also sold as wives to start the colonies in exchange for tobacco. 1624-Virginia Company’s charter was cancelled by King James, making Jamestown the 1st royal colony for England in America.

Reasons for Colonization Spain-Gold, God, and Glory France-Fishing and Fur Trade England-Religious Persecution, trade, and land