1. Searching for the Northwest Passage
Lesson 5
Vocabulary
Northwest Passage
merchant company
Reading Skill
How did the search for the Northwest Passage affect people?
Cause and Effect
Teacher Notes
Essential Question: How did the search for the Northwest Passage affect people?

2. Searching for the Northwest Passage
What was the importance of the Northwest Passage?
It was believed to be a shortcut to Asia that would allow Europeans to make the trip less costly and much faster.
What was a merchant company? Why was it important?
It was a group of businessmen who shared the costs of exploratory voyages. It was important because rulers financed previous voyages.
Teacher Notes
The Northwest Passage was a water route which many Europeans believed connected the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
A merchant company was a group of businesspeople who shared the costs of a trading voyage.
Point out to students that com- means “together.” In this case, traders do business together.
Unlike the Spanish and the French, the Dutch were more interested in trading with Native Americans than in converting them to Christianity.

3. Teacher Notes:
The Northwest Passage was a water route which many Europeans believed connected the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
A merchant company was a group of businesspeople who shared the costs of a trading voyage.
Unlike the Spanish and the French, the Dutch were more interested in trading with Native Americans than in converting them to Christianity.