Chapter 2European Exploration and Settlement

2.1 IntroductionThe Europeans did not know about Native

Americans. They did not know that the Americas existed.

Europeans wanted to find land that was to the east

of America because of an explorer named Marco Polo. Marco Polo traveled through Asia with his father. When he returned home

to Italy, he told everyone about “the Indies.” The Indies are India and East Asia. Marco Polo told so many stories about the Indies that they were written in a book.

Because of this book, many European explorers wanted to get to China by going around the southern tip of Africa. Some explorers were brave and thought they could go west and find China. They did not know that the Americas were in their way.

Christopher Columbus was one of these explorers. In this chapter you will learn how Christopher Columbus sailed west to find a route to China but bumped into

the America’s instead. They called the Americas the NEW WORLD.2.2 Spain Starts and Empire

There was also a big change in Europe at the time. People began reading Ancient Greek and Roman books again. People began to love learning and art. This time was called the Renaissance which means “rebirth.” Marco Polo’s book became very popular because of the printing press. Books became

more available and Marco Polo’s book was one of the favorite.

Columbus’ DiscoveriesChristopher Columbus was one of the

people who read Marco Polo’s book. Columbus studied maps and he believed that the shortest way to get to the Indies was to go west, across the Atlantic Ocean.

Columbus looked for someone to pay for his ships and give him men to help him on his journey. Finally King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain agreed to pay for his voyage.

On August 3, 1492, Columbus sailed west with three small ships. After a month at sea, a crew member spotted land. The land was a small island in the Caribbean Sea.

Columbus met the people that were already

living on the island and he called them Indians because he thought he had reached the Indies. He really met Native Americans.

The Native Americans that he met were from the Taino tribe. They lived peacefully in a fishing village. They had never seen Europeans and were friendly to Columbus.

Columbus claimed the land as Spain’s and called it San Salvador which means “Holy Savior.” Columbus sailed to other islands and sailed back to Spain to find more ships and men.

Columbus made four trips to the Caribbean, finding more islands and the continent of South America. Columbus died believing that he found the Indies or Asia. He really found the continents of North and South America.The Columbian Exchange

Columbus’ voyages caused a exchange or transfer of people, plants, animals, and diseases across the Atlantic Ocean. The

exchange still happens today and it is called the Columbian Exchange. It brought corn and potatoes to Europe which helped the European diet. For Native Americans, the exchange was a bad thing. The Europeans brought diseases and many Native Americans died. 90% of the Native American population was killed due to the diseases.Slavery comes to America

The Europeans started gold mines. Others raised sugar. At first they forced the Native Americans to work in the mines and fields. Because most of the Native Americans were dying of disease, they forced slaves from Africa to work.

Slavery had been in the world since ancient times. People, who lost wars, were captured and made to be slaves for the people who had won the war. The Europeans traded guns for slaves in West Africa. Those slaves were then shipped to the New World.Cortes Conquers Mexico

After Columbus’s voyage, Spain started sending soldiers called conquistadors. They had the job of taking over any land they could for Spain.

In 1519, Hernan Cortes went to Mexico with horses and 500 men. He wanted to take over the Aztecs who controlled most of Mexico. The Indians did not like the

Aztecs and agreed to help Cortes take over the Aztecs. Most of the Aztecs also died from the disease

smallpox. They tore down the Aztec city and used the stone to build Mexico City, the capital of a new empire called New Spain.

Pizarro Conquers PeruPizarro was another

conquistador who wanted to take over South American. He conquered the Incas. The Incas were a powerful civilization. He

took their ruler captive and told the people that he would give him back if they gave him gold. The people gave him three rooms of gold but he killed their ruler anyway. Spanish conquistadors took over most of South America.

2.3 The Spanish BorderlandsConquistadors found a lot gold

and silver in South America. They wanted more gold and silver. They decided to move north to what is now the United States. This was called the

Spanish Borderlands because it was located on the edge of Spain’s territory. Florida

The first Spanish expedition into North America was led by a man named Juan Ponce de Leon. He sailed with Christopher Columbus and made a lot of money from the gold and wanted to find the “Fountain of Youth.” The Fountain of Youth is a legend that says that if you drink the water you will stay young forever.

Ponce de Leon landed on a sunny peninsula (land surrounded by water on three sides) that he named La Florida which means “flowery.” Eight years later he returned to Florida to settle with other people from Spain. This settlement was called a colony. Ponce de Leon never found the fountain of youth and was killed when a Native American shot a poison arrow to his stomach.

The Seven Cities of Cibola

Another legend that was being told to the Spanish people was the one about the Seven Cities of Cibola. These cities were said to be cities made of gold. The Native Americans also told stories about this legend. The Spanish were convinced that the cities existed and looked for them all over Florida and Texas. They never found the Seven Cities of Cibola but a Spanish priest claimed to have seen a shimmering golden city in New Mexico. He ran back to Mexico City with the news.

The Coronado ExpeditionIn 1540, a

conquistador named

Francisco Vasquez de Coronado left for Mexico City. He wanted to find the Seven Cities of Cibola. Instead he found a Native American pueblo. A pueblo is a village of apartment-like buildings. This may have been the golden city that the priest was talking about but Coronado thought it looked like a crowded village.

Coronado continued north into the Great Plains looking for the golden cities. He never found them and said that the seven golden cities are really seven little villages. Settling the Borderlands

The conquistadors went on to explore and claim land for Spain. They slowly settled in present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. This is why a lot of these states still speak Spanish.

Then when other European groups began to settle, the Spanish sent soldiers to protect the

claims. The soldiers lived in walled forts called presidios.

Catholic missionaries were also sent with the soldiers. Missionaries are priests who try to talk or persuade people into becoming Catholic. They built missions or settlements where they lived and taught the Native Americans new skills like growing food and about the Christian faith.

At first, the Native Americans (Pueblos) were friends with the new Spanish settlers. Then the Spanish became cruel. Indians were made to work as slaves. Priests ordered that Pueblo religious leaders be whipped because they wouldn’t follow the Catholic religion.

The Pueblos started a war and pushed the Spanish out of Mexico. They returned twelve years later.

This is a MISSION

This is a PRESIDIO

Impact of Native Americans Native American people learned how to

use new tools, grow new foods, and raise livestock (sheep) for wool.

Native Americans showed Spanish how to survive in harsh climates – grow crops in desert soil.

Some Natives converted to Catholic faith – many lived and worked at missions. (many still practiced traditional rituals despite converting)

Spanish diseases spread to the Natives – Smallpox, Measles, and Influenza often wiped out entire villages.

Before Coronado’s expedition there were over 100 Pueblos in New Mexico. By 1700, only 18 remained.

Cruel treatment of many of the Native Americans- Spanish saw them as inferior (less then themselves)

2.4New France Spanish ships returned home full of gold and

silver every year. Spain appeared to become more powerful and wealthier. This made the rest of Europe very jealous. Other countries wanted their share of the wealth from the New World. None were strong enough to take over Spain’s American empire. Instead countries had to find land not claimed by Spain.Claiming New France

In 1534 , Jacques Cartier explored the Atlantic coastline in search of a Northwest Passage which was a waterway through North America to the Pacific Ocean so that he could find a shortcut to Asia. On his way he discovered that beaver fur was almost as valuable as gold. The people made beaver hats and they were a hot commodity (meaning everyone wanted a beaver hat). He never found a passage, but he did claim modern day Canada for the French. This became known as “New France.” This is why a lot of Canadians still speak French. Settling New France

In 1608 Samuel de Champlain made the first settlement in New France – Quebec. He made this a trading post. For next 150 years, Quebec was a base for soldiers, explorers, missionaries, traders, and fur trappers. The

fur trappers called themselves Coureurs de bois which means “wood rangers.” As the French fur trappers pushed west, the missionaries followed to convert Native Americans into Christians.

New France failed to attract large numbers of settlers because it had a harsh climate and farmers did not want to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Another reason was the Colony’s policy of giving the best land along the river to French Nobles (wealthy people). Those nobles would then rent the land to Farmers. The farmers did not like renting the land so they soon gave up farming and explored in search of FUR.Native American Business Partners

Because the French were more interested in furs than farming, they did not try to take over the Native Americans. They did not have a need to have land. They traveled around in search of fur.

The French became “business partners” with the Native Americans. They did this so that they could use the Native’s knowledge to help with their fur business.

The French became friends with the Native American tribe, the HURON. The French lived in Huron villages, learned trapping and language and married Huron women. Huron taught the French how to survive in the wilderness in the new environment. Unfortunately the contact with the French exposed the Huron to European diseases and killed a lot of the Huron Tribe.

The French even joined the Huron in an attack on a rival tribe, the Iroquois. Iroquois who were strong warriors were no match for European guns and fled in terror. From that moment on, the Iroquois would be an enemy of the French.Claiming Louisiana

The search for FUR led the French deep into North America. In 1673, French explorers

explored the Mississippi River. They hoped it was Northwest Passage that everyone wanted to find but it wasn’t. So the French returned to France.

Nine years later an explorer named de La Salle explored the length of the Mississippi River. On April 9, 1682 he planted a French flag at mouth of river and claimed everything west of river for France. La Salle named this area Louisiana after the French King Louis XIV. This is why there are a lot of French speaking people in Louisiana.

2.5Jamestown: The First English Colony An Italian named John Cabot was living in

England. He heard of the news of Christopher Columbus trying to find a western route to Asia. He decided he wanted to do the same.

In 1497, he sailed across the Atlantic and landed in Newfoundland, which is the

island off coast of Canada. He didn’t find any humans, but he did find artifacts of humans. He thought he was in Asia and planted a flag there. Later, England claimed all of North America for themselves. Lost Colony of Roanoke

Almost a century later, Sir Walter Raleigh tried to start a colony on Roanoke Island off coast of North Carolina. The Native Americans helped them with traps for catching fish; the colonists were more interested in gold than catching fish. When supplies ran low, they returned to England. Several other colonists returned to Roanoke but fighting broke out between England and Spain so the colony just disappeared. Settling Jamestown

Twenty years went by and a permanent English Colony was established. In 1607 a group of London merchants decided to start a money-making colony in Virginia. 144 settlers crammed into three ships. Their goal was to

send back valuable goods like fur and timber to England.

The merchants settled on a swampy peninsula they believed was good for defense against Native Americans and Spanish. They named it Jamestown after King James I.

The settlers didn’t know that the area would be swarmed with disease-carrying mosquitoes. They also didn’t know the area was surrounded by a large and power Native American group. This was a huge problem.

The settlers were mostly men and craftsmen. There were no farmers. None of the settlers were eager to work hard in the wilderness. They were there to look for riches, not to farm. The food they brought with them began to run out, so they traded or bartered

with Native Americans for food. Trade wasn’t easy though. Many Natives decided they would rather kill the settlers or let them starve before helping them.

In 1608, John Smith took control of group. He said that any many who did not work, would not be able to eat. So the settlers worked. He was captured by Native Americans though

while out searching for food. The Powhatan Chief invites Smith to a feast but at the end, the Natives were going to club or beat Smith with a wooded rod. Then out of nowhere Pocahontas (Chiefs Daughter) jumped out and saved Smith from being killed. Pocahontas saved Smith and Jamestown by bringing food and keeping peace with her tribe.Starving Time

1609 Smith returned to England after being injured by gun powder. That winter was the worst ever – so bad it was referred to as the “Starving Time”. Without Smith, the Natives refused trade with settlers. The settlers were starving. By spring, only 60 of the 500 settlers remained alive. Supply ships arrived in spring and survivors were ordered to leave the failed colony. Then three more ships arrived with food, 150 new colonists, and 100 soldiers. Jamestown was saved again!Jamestown Survives

Even though there were new settlers and supplies, the colonists were attacked many times by the Native Americans. To end those threats, English decided to capture Pocahontas and hold her “prisoner” for over a year. Really she was interested in the settlers and did not fight back. During this time she learned English, became a Christian, and made friends with English.

Another Englishman named John Rolfe became friends with

Pocahontas. He found the tobacco which grew easily and could be sold in Europe. The settlers were happy to be making money. They planted the new crop everywhere, even in the streets.

Rolfe proposed to Pocahontas and both the

Governor of Jamestown and Powhatan Chief agreed to the marriage. They hoped the marriage would

end all of the fighting between them. They were right.2.6 New Netherlands: Short-Lived Dutch Settlement

Just like the Spanish, French and the English, the Dutch hoped to find the Northwest Passage. They sent Henry Hudson to explore.

In 1609, Henry Hudson finds a river deep and full of fish.

He thinks it goes across the continent (it doesn’t) but he claims it for the Dutch.

In 1621, the Dutch West India Company started a colony in America along the Hudson River which is in Fort Orange near Albany, NY. Here, fur trade was popular. Hudson made trading posts along the river and the largest was at the mouth of river on Manhattan Island.Relations with Native AmericansIn 1626 Dutch West India Company sent Peter Minuit to be the new colony’s Governor. He was told to deal with Natives peacefully. He must not use violence or threats and he should use kind words or give them gifts. Minuit offered Natives iron pots, beads and blankets that were worth $24 for their land

The Natives didn’t believe in owning land but they made the trade anyway. They thought the settlers were dumb.

The Dutch made trades and eventually an alliance with the Iroquois. The French were partnered with HURON to get guns, so Iroquois partnered with Dutch to get weapons. The Deal made sense for Dutch because they were fighting with the French over fur. The Iroquois kept the French out of fur-rich Ohio Valley for most of 1600’s.New Amsterdam

Fur trade was popular and the Dutch settlement grew to over 1,000 people. Peter

Stuyvesant was hired as new governor of New Amsterdam. He had a peg leg with silver

nails. People did not like him but he stayed governor for 17 years. He captured a Swedish colony and invited them to join the New Amsterdam settlement. By 1660, the colony had over 8,000 different types of people

(European Nations, Enslaved Africans, Jewish refugees)2.7 Chapter SummaryIn this chapter, you read about the first European settlements in the Americas. Discovery and Competition Explorers like Christopher Columbus were looking for a westward route to Asia when they stumbled onto the American continents. European nations competed to claim these new lands and the riches they might contain.Spain Spain claimed vast territories, including Mexico and the southwestern

portion of the future United States. In their search for gold and other treasures, Spanish conquistadors conquered the Aztecs of Mexico and the Incas of Peru. The Spanish also brought enslaved Africans to the Americas to plant and harvest crops. In the American Southwest, Spanish missionaries worked to convert American Indians to Christianity.France The French staked a claim to much of present-day Canada, as well as Louisiana, the territory west of the Mississippi River. Most French settlers were more interested in trapping and trading furs than in farming or establishing large settlements.England The English based their claim to North America on John Cabot’s 1497 voyage. After several attempts, the English established their first permanent colony at Jamestown in Virginia.The Netherlands The Dutch established a foothold in North America by founding the colony of New Netherland. The English, however, drove the Dutch out and renamed the colony New York.

Effects on American Indians For American Indians, the arrival of Europeans brought many changes, including new technology and new ideas. But they also brought deadly diseases that killed great numbers of the first Americans.

New Netherlands Becomes New York –Stuyvesant’s biggest problem was facing the English. England’s king, Charles II, refused to recognize the Dutch claims in New Netherland He gave his brother, James, the

Duke of York ownership of all Dutch lands in America – if he could conquer them. James took a small fleet to take the Dutch colony. He sent Stuyvesant a letter demanding his surrender. Stuyvesant tore up the note and refused to surrender. This was until he was informed his supply of gunpowder was damp and useless.Without firing a shot, the English seized control of New Netherland. It was renamed New York.