How did the Empire Grow?

1. How did the Empire Grow? L/O – To explore why America became the first part of the British Empire Starter – Who first discovered the Americas in 1492? What did he think he had discovered at first?

2. How did the British Empire begin? • The British Empire began on 5th March 1496. On this date the 1st Tudor King, Henry VII, asked an Italian explorer to go out and search the world for any ‘islands, countries, regions or provinces’ that were ‘unknown to all Christians’. • The explorer was instructed that, if he discovered any new lands, he was to claim them for England. Now read the hand-out and answer questions 1-3

3. She is pointing at the newly found continent of the Americas, and particularly a region in North America called Virginia, which one of her explorers had claimed for her in 1588 Which English Queen is this? Can you see the stormy weather and wrecked Spanish ships? Can you see the English ships sailing in the sunshine? What is the Queen pointing at on the Globe? Why do you think this portrait was painted? Can you see the Globe in the painting? Can you see the Globe in the painting?

4. A false start? • The Spanish discovered America first in 1492 but they didn’t pay much attention to North America because they thought it was too much hard work to make any money from it! • The English were left to claim land in North America and in 1497 John Cabot claimed a huge area of Canada for the King. He called it Newfoundland, and it became the first part of England’s new Empire.

5. A false start? • Cabot and his crew did not stay long. Over the next few years Spanish, Portuguese, French and English fishermen went to catch cod in the area! • The Tudor Kings and Queens did little to expand England’s Empire. • But all this changed when Elizabeth I became queen!

6. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

7. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

8. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

9. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

10. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

11. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

12. How England’s Empire Grew Cut out the picture from your sheet in the right order and write a caption for each to help tell the story.

13. Timeline of the British Empire • 1492 – Columbus discovers America • 1497 – John Cabot discover Newfoundland • 1550 – Spain controls lands in the Americas • 1559 – Elizabeth I becomes Queen of England • 1577 – Sir Francis Drake sails round the world • 1583 – Sir Humphrey Gilbert claims more land for England in Newfoundland • 1584 – Sir Walter Raleigh claims new lands further south and calls it ‘Virginia’. Creates a town called Roanoke but the settlers die! • 1587 – 2nd group of settlers arrives, John White returns to England to ask for help! • 1590 – John White returns but finds all the settlers missing! • 1607 – New colony called ‘Jamestown’ is established in Virginia

14. Plenary • Which man first discovered North America for the English in 1492? • Which Tudor Queen became interested in having an Empire? • Why did Elizabeth want an Empire? • The first two English colonies were called? • The first English settlement was called? Did we meet our learning objective? L/O – To explore why America became the first part of the British Empire