Chapter 2: European Colonization of the Americas

Chapter 2: European Colonization of the Americas How It All Got Started…

Building a Spanish Empire • Spanish explorers had three major motives for conquering the region. • Spread religion • Gain wealth • Win fame • “God, gold, and glory.”

Spanish!! • Juan Ponce de Leon • “Fountain of Youth” • Vasco Balboa • First to see the Pacific from America • Cortez • Conquered the Aztecs

Spanish Control • Had established colonies • Colony- areas settled by immigrants who continue to be ruled by their parent country. • Made them very wealthy and prosperous using enslaved Native Americans and Africans.

Moving North • “City of Gold” • Parts of Mexico, Peru, Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma. • Eventually Native American Revolts and help from the British hindered the Spanish from growing larger.

The British are Coming… • All European nations wanted to gain wealth like Spain. The English were the most motivated and the most successful. • John Cabot-First known English explorer to cross the Atlantic. • Many of the English explorers were looking for a trade route to Asia.

The British are Coming… • Henry Hudson- Reached the river known as the “Hudson” in what is now New York. • Privateers- British sailors who were hired to raid Spanish treasure ships and cities in the Americas.

Let’s Settle Down… • 4 reasons why people wanted to settle down in the Americas: • 1. Wanted a base in the Americas from which they could attack Spanish ships and cities. • 2. When they found a Northwest Passage, they needed to set up a supply station for trading ships.

Let’s Settle Down • 3. English merchants also wanted new markets. (Native Americans and a growing population) • 4. Many believed their homeland had become too crowded. America would be a great place to send those that could not find work or homes.

Roanoke Island • First attempt was set up for a permanent colony. The settlers were starved and returned home. • 2nd colony was set up, but they just vanished. • All that was left of them was the word “Croatoan.” This was the name of a tribe close to them.

Jamestown • 1606 settlement that was established years after the Roanoke disaster. • Some businessman established a “Charter” or certificate of permission from the king. This allowed them to set up a “Joint-Stock Company” given to a group of investors who can share in profits and losses. “Virginia Company.”

Jamestown • Started from about 100 settlers in Virginia and was named after their King: James I. • It was not that great for many reasons: • 1. Hard work • 2. Location, Location, Location: Swamp=Mosquitoes • 3. Poor leadership • “You want to eat, you have to work”

Poor Leadership • Time and Distance • No profit, no charter • Virginia became a Royal colony- a colony with the governor appointed by the king. • Legislature-Lawmaking assembly (House of Burgessess)

Workforce • England-It was cheaper to have cattle than farms so they kicked farmers off their land. • Americas-promised some land if they came and others became indentured servants. • Indentured servants- Worked for a period of time and were given a free ticket and food and shelter.

The New England Colonies • French-Settled in Parts of Canada as far as Massachusetts. • Marquette and Joliet-Traveled down the Mississippi in hopes of finding the Pacific. They did not and traveled home. • Developed a large fur-trading business. • Native Americans helped, but also fought.

New England Colonies • British were setting up territories that have come to be known as: • Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

Puritans and Separatists • 1534 King Henry VIII had broken with the Catholic church and had founded the Anglican Church. • Some complained that this church still resembled the Catho

Chapter 2: European Colonization of the Americas