Settling the “New World”

1. Settling the “New World” Reasons for Spanish, French and English exploration, settlement, and development in North America

2. Why Leave Home?? • Political turmoil • Religious freedom • Economic opportunity • Many people leave their home countries because they feel they are being “persecuted” there. • For years, European countries were exploring then “colonizing” in their newly discovered areas

3. European Exploration Governments in Europe were trying to expand their empires, find new sources of wealth, and develop lands for agricultural use. Many of the people who travelled do so for the same reasons.

4. Spanish Exploration and Settlement “I Love Gold!”

5. A History of Spanish Exploration • “Conquistadores” were Spanish soldiers who led military expeditions in the Americas. Some went on their own in search of riches, others were commissioned by government officials to locate gold or establish settlements. • Many explorations began in South America, and later explorers moved towards North America

6. Hernan Cortes • Sent to Mexico in 1519 • Searching for the kingdom of Moctezuma II, an Aztec • Moctezuma sent gold as a gift and in hopes that Cortes would leave them alone • Ultimately, Cortes successfully attacked the Aztec empire

7. Francisco Pizarro • Inspired by Cortes’ success • 1531 – landed in Peru and reached the Inca Empire • Kidnapped their ruler – Atahualpa – who offered gold and silver for freedom • Riches were brought, but Atahualpa was killed • Ultimately, Pizarro conquered the Empire

8. Defeating the Empires Cortes Pizarro • Aztec Empire • North America (Mexico) • In search of riches • Moctezuma wounded in battle (then died) • Incan Empire • South America (Peru) • In search of riches • Atahualpa killed by Pizarro • How did they succeed?? • Weaponry • Horses • Smallpox

9. Conquistadores in Florida • Juan Ponce de Leon • Searching riches • Legend: searching for the fountain of youth • Sent by King Ferdinand • 1513 - Landed in Florida • Fought American Indians, found no gold, found no Fountain • Founded a settlement in 1521 • Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca • 1528 - Survived illness, attack, weather, and starvation • Started at the west coast of FLA, travelled to Texas (captured and escaped) and then New Mexico • Lived with tribes while searching for Spanish settlement – 1536 met a group of Spanish soldiers

10. GOLD!! • Hernando de Soto – FLA in 1539, headed north into N.C., then west to Arkansas • First European to cross the Mississippi River • Avoided settling – was searching gold - didn’t trade, either • Francisco Vasquez de Coronado – New Mexico in 1540, looking for Cibola (city of gold/gems) • Conquered towns with the same name, but no riches • Travelled all the way to Kansas • Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo – Sailed the coast of CA in 1542looking for gold/new route to China • Exploration gave Spain claim to the Pacific coast

11. So – Where Were They?

12. And How Did They Get There?

13. Ruling • Set up pueblos (trading posts), missions (to convert American Indians to Catholicism), and presidios (military forts – Florida and Texas) • King Phillip II declared spreading Christianity as the main reason for founding new settlements • Used slaves – first American Indians, then from Africa – to work on plantations (especially in Caribbean) • Founded St. Augustine, FL (1565) after the French tried to settle there • Empires holdings were challenged after defeat of the Armada by the English and the economy weakened

14. The French in North America Canadian and Great Lakes Exploration in the Name of Fur!

15. French Exploration of North America • Prior to extensive exploration, some French fishermen had been travelling to the north coast of North America in the early 1500’s • France looked to expand their trading empire and expand the spread of Catholicism • How is this similar to the Spanish? • How is this different from the Spanish?

16. Original Settlement • The first French settlement was in Florida • Do you remember what the Spanish named that fort? • It was founded by “Huguenots” – French Protestants • France lagged behind Spanish exploration in part because of religious fighting in France • The Catholics and the Huguenots were in conflict • Approximately 200,00 were driven out of France during this time • Some fled to other European countries, while others travelled to the “New World”

17. France Begins Exploring • Began by founding “Acadia” = Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, parts of Maine • Established small trading communities and fishing villages • Samuel de Champlain explored the coast, then headed west • Reached the St. Lawrence River and Great Lakes • Founded Quebec (1608) • Also explored New York and Vermont

18. Fur was in high demand in Europe

19. Water and Fur • Fur was abundant around the Great Lakes • Fur – especially beaver pelts – were used to make hats • The French traded with the American Indians – exchanged tools, jewelry and cloth for furs • Had to travel into the wilderness to trade • Usually travelled by water • Through Montreal (1642), furs were shipped back to France

20. Trading posts were established

21. France Continues Exploring • Fur traders, missionaries, and explorers ventured from the Great Lakes • Jacques Marquette travelled the Mississippi River as far as Arkansas, but turned back for fear of encountering the Spanish • Rene-Robert de La Salle followed the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico • He claimed the lands for France • He honored King Louis XIV by naming the area Louisiana

22. Where Did They Go?

23. Attempting to Settle • Had difficulty getting settlers • Had 12,000 by 1688 • Began to build outposts, particularly along waterways • Detroit and New Orleans • Allied with the Algonquian and Huron Indians • Because of strong trading ties • Result = enemy of the Iroquios

24. Conflict Brewing??

25. English Settlements Establishing a Stronghold in the New World

26. Primary Reasons for Settlement • Permanent settlement in the “New World” • Would expand British Empire • Investment in new opportunities • Agriculture • Natural Resources • Religious Freedom • Catholics and Protestants were often in conflict

27. The “Lost Colony” of Roanoke • Sir Walter Raleigh finances expedition • Group landed in Virginia & North Carolina – called whole area “Virginia” • Sent a group to Roanoke Island in 1585 – hard life. Most left in 1586 • Resettled 1587 by John White – upon returning in 1590, found colony empty • No certainty of what happened

28. Early Settlements – Jamestown Struggles • A joint-stock company was created to settle the colony • Called the “London Company” • Does not rely on the investments of just one person • Promised land and wealth to attract investors and settlers • Arrived in April 1607 and named settlement after King James I • Difficult land, unskilled workers, unsafe water • 2/3 of colonists dead by winter

29. Early Settlements – Jamestown Rebounds • Received help from the Powhatan Confederacy – alliance of Algonquian Indians • Sometimes brought food; taught to grow corn • Colony still struggled with famine and disease • Capt. John Rolfe introduced a West Indian strain of tobacco • Became a successful export “All our riches for the present doe consiste in Tobacco” -John Porry 1619

30. Early Settlements - Plymouth • A Protestant group – called “Puritans” – wanted to reform (purify) the Church of England (Anglican Church) • Thought bishops/priests had too much power • The most extreme group wanted to separate from the Church of England entirely • These “Separatists” began to be punished by English leaders • Seeking religious freedom, these people left England for the Netherlands • Enjoyed religious freedom, but were losing English traditions

31. Early Settlements - Plymouth • 100+ people boarded the Mayflower in 1620 • Landed in Massachusetts, even though their charter was for Virginia • Had to create rules/laws • Created the Mayflower Compact • First attempt at self-governance • Gained aid from local American Indians • Squanto – fertilize soil and establish relationships with tribes • Harvest celebration = Thanksgiving

32. Early Settlements - Comparison Jamestown Plymouth • For economic reasons • Mostly single men • Followed one primary leader (John Smith and John Rolfe) • For religious freedom • Family based • Created a set of rules “for the general good of the colony”