European Exploration - Exploration and Colonization

What are the three main motivations for European exploration?

gold, god, glory

Gold

economic benefit, new trade routes to Asia, land, gold and silver, mercantilism

God

religious reasons, Catholicism, built missions to convert natives, search for religious freedom

Glory

political reasons (power), expansion, competitions between nations, gain personal and national prestige

Who did the Spanish mostly send to the Americas?

They sent mostly men. (soldiers and priests)

Who did the French mostly send to the Americas?

They sent mostly men.

Who did the English mostly send to the Americas?

They mostly sent families to settle.

What did the Spanish do in the Americas?

They were searching for gold and riches. They founded missions to convert the natives.

What did the French do in the Americas?

They focused on the fur trade.

What did the English do in the Americas?

They went for economic gain, land, and religious freedom.

What was the Spaniards relationship with the natives?

The Spaniards conquered and enslaved the natives.

What was the French’s relationship with the native groups?

The French cooperated and were friendly with the native groups.

What was the English’s relationship with the natives?

The English pushed the native groups out.

Jamestown (1607)

founded by the Virginia Co. to find gold (economic gain)

helped by Pocahontas and the Powhatans

Tobacco made the company profitable

Plymouth

founded by pilgrims (separatists) for religious freedom

signed Mayflower compact to govern themselves

later became part of Massachusetts

Massachusetts (1630)

founded religious freedom for puritans

not tolerant of other religions

Pennsylvania (1681)

founded by William Penn for religious freedom for Quakers

offered freedom and equality for all religious groups

Maryland

founded by George Calvert (Lord Baltimore) for religious freedom for Catholics

New York

founded by the Dutch for the fur trade (economic gain)

eventually taken over by the english

The Carolinas

founded by English for cultivating cash crops (economic gain)

Georgia

founded by James Oglethorpe as a “start over” haven for poor English debtors (social reason) and as a buffer between Spanish Florida and wealthy English colonies (political reason)

Christopher Colombus

1492 - Colombus discovered New World for Europe and claimed it as Spain

wanted to get to Asia by sailing west

had three ships, Nina, Santa Maria, and Mayflower

made governor of the New World

Hernan Cortes

1519 - Spain realized natives had gold after discovering new world

Cortes sent to new world to conquer Aztecs and get gold

did this by making alliances with other enemy tribes of Aztecs

Aztec Empire

around Central Mexico, had advanced cities with a large population and pyramids

had a more accurate calendar than Europe, pictographic writing system

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado (1540)

motivated by hearing of the town Cibola, town with many riches. This story is most likely exaggerated.

He contributed to the European understanding of the geography of the Southwest United States

during this old world animals were brought to new world and vice versa.

Results of Conquest (Spain)

Spain - rich and had powerful military system that dominated Europe. Sent missionaries to convert natives to Christianity

Results of Conquest (Native groups)

lost majority of land/natural resources, population was destroyed because of disease/war

Negative Effects of Colonization

European diseases killed up to 90% of the native population

Exhaustion of natural resources led to starvation

Many tribes were forced to migrate

New England Region Geography

northernmost colonies

very cold, short growing season

rocky soil

lots of Atlantic shoreline, natural harbors, rivers

New England Economy

subsistence farming only

lumber

shipbuilding, fishing, manufacturing, trading

New England People

dominated by Puritans

very intolerant of non-puritans

middle colonies geography

dense forest

fertile soil

moderate climate

middle colonies economy

lumber

agriculture

nicknamed “Breadbasket of the Colonies”

middle colonies people

diverse ethnically and religiously

more tolerance

southern colonies geography

warm, humid climate

long growing season

flat land, rich soil

bordered by spanish florida

southern colonies economy

agriculture (cash crops)

plantation system

created a demand for enslaved workers

southern colonies people

rural, less emphasis on religious participation

anglican church

large class divide

large population of enslaved people

first great awakening

religious revival among Christians

Preachers, Jonathon Edwards and George Whitefield, preached

people more emotionally connected to religion

1649 Maryland Toleration Act

religious tolerance towards all Christians

1786 Virginia Act

established religious freedom and de-established the official church