Alabama High School Graduation Exam Objective 1 America’s exploration, development and divergence Pre-Colonial and Colonial America

Standard 1: Pre-colonial and Colonial Eras Many events in World History led to the future colonization of North America and what later would become the United States. Some of these events include: 1.Middle Ages and Feudalism 2.The Crusades 3.The Renaissance 4.The Protestant Reformation 5.Spanish, Dutch, British and French Explorers. 6.Establishment of English Colonies

Middle Ages After the fall of the Roman Empire, many groups fought for control of the vast lands of Europe. Because of the violence and lack of contact with other cultures in Asia and Africa, Europe fell into a period of isolation known as the Medieval or Middle Ages. This period lasted from 500 A.D. to 1300 A.D. During this period few Europeans could read or write. Mostly the clergy or church officials could read and write. A social structure known as Feudalism was established.

Feudalism The system of feudalism consisted of the following in order of structure: 1.Monarchs- King and Queen 2.Nobles- Given land by the Monarchs in return for military service 3.Vassals- Lesser Nobles 4.Knights-Warriors 5.Serfs-Common people who were restricted to the Nobles land. This system would eventually fail after the Crusades

The Crusades The Crusades lasted from These were a series of holy wars between European Christians and the Muslims occupying Jerusalem. As a result of these wars, Europeans discovered Asian foods, spices and clothing from the region and brought them back to Europe. The land route between Europe and Asia was slow and involved heavy taxes as goods passed through many small countries. Europeans looked for a sea route to Asia.

Crusades (continued) The desire for a sea route to Asia led to many new advances in sailing and navigation. Prince Henry of Portugal established a navigation school to train sailors. A new ship, the Caravel was created. The Astrolabe, a device used to determine location by using the stars was now used by European sailors.

Renaissance The term literally means “rebirth” and refers to the great cultural developments that began during the 1500’s in Italy and later spread across Europe. People became better educated which added to the growing desire to explore. With the invention of Johann Gutenberg’s printing press and a more literate population the people of Europe became upset with the abuses of the Catholic Church. This led to the Protestant Reformation.

Protestant Reformation In the early 1500’s a German Monk named Martin Luther demanded that the Catholic Church end the sale of indulgences or church sacraments. Luther and others like him started various churches and broke away from the Catholic Church. Protestant groups such as the Pilgrims would come to North America looking for religious freedom.

Spanish Explorers Perhaps the best known Spanish explorer was Christopher Columbus. Columbus was an Italian explorer representing Spain in its quest to find a sea route to Asia by sailing due west. Columbus, instead had found the Continent of North America and not India. This would change history forever.

Spanish Explorers (continued) Other Spanish explorers called Conquistadors would later explore and colonize what later would be, Florida with America’s oldest city St. Augustine, the southwest and the land known as California. Spain would also conquer the Aztecs and Mayas of Mexico and the Incas of Peru in South America. The Spanish established colonies called missions in what would later be Arizona, New Mexico and California. The Spanish were responsible for destroying much of the Native American population in these areas. The Spanish also introduced the Horse to North America and imported African slaves to work their plantations.

Spanish Explorers (continued) Important Spanish Explorers: 1. Hernando Cortez- Conquered the Aztecs. 2. Francisco Pizarro- Conquered the Incas. 3. Hernando de Soto – Explored parts of the Southeast including Alabama. These and others sought to: Find gold, spread Christianity, seek glory for them and for Spain. Gold, Glory and God.

Spanish Explorers (continued) These explorers also helped establish the Columbian Exchange. -A mix of European and Native American Cultures. * Europeans brought tea, sugar, and coffee to the New World. * Europeans brought animals such as cattle and the horse. * The exchange of languages took place. * European diseases killed as many as 80 % of the Native American population.

French explorers The French sent explorers to what would become Canada in North America in order to find a Northwest Passage through the Continent to the Pacific Ocean. Their first settlement was Quebec. The French would also control the Mississippi River all the way to New Orleans at the Gulf of Mexico. Other French discoveries included the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes. The colony became a fishing and fur trading Friction would later develop between the French colonists and the 13 English Colonies to the South.

Dutch The Dutch colonized the island of Manhattan in The British would later take control of the island and established the colony of New York.

English Colonies The first attempt by the English to establish a colony came in 1587 at Roanoke in present day North Carolina by Sir Walter Raleigh. It was “The Lost Colony”. The First permanent English Colony was Jamestown in present day Virginia. The Virginia Company was a joint stock company that funded the colony. The Colony also created the House of Burgesses in It was the first citizen elected legislature and an example for the future government of the United States.

English Colonies (continued) The Southern colonies were made up of plantation owners whose economy depended on crops such as tobacco, rice, indigo and cotton. Traders from the Southern colonies established a Triangular Trade Route from the Caribbean, up to New York and later to West Africa. Slavery would become a very important part of the South which would become a problem for the United States from its beginning in 1776 up to the end of the Civil War.

English Colonies (continued) The New England Colonies were established for various reasons including religious freedom. The colony at Plymouth was established by the Pilgrims in Their Mayflower Compact and the Town Meetings would be an example of democracy for the future United States.

English Colonies (continued) The Middle Colonies included Pennsylvania and Maryland. Both were setup for various religious groups including the Quakers in Pennsylvania and the Catholics in Maryland.

English Colonies (continued) The 13 Colonies were important to England because of an Economic policy called Mercantilism. It helped England have a surplus of Gold by Exporting and importing to the colonies. England became wealthy from its 13 colonies but the threat of war with France over land in the Ohio Valley would cause a change in relations between England and its 13 Colonies.