CHAPTER 2: EUROPEAN EXPLORERS IN THE AMERICAS 1492-1650
Mr OwenICCS Middle School7th grade American History
CHAPTER 2: EUROPEAN EXPLORERS IN AMERICA After Columbus’s first voyages to the New
World in 1492, many other European followed, changing the world forever. Societies from the New World would be
conquered by Spanish explorers and Spain would become rich
Other European countries wanted to get their own share, leading to conflict
Colonists begin to bring African slaves across the ocean to work on plantations
SECTION 1: SPAIN CLAIMS AN EMPIRE Vocabulary
Mercantilism – an economic system based on creating a favorable balance of trade
Conquistador – a Spanish soldier that explored and claimed land for Spain
Missionary – a person sent by the church to convert people to Christianity
People Christopher Columbus – navigator looking for a water
route to Asia Hernando Cortes –conquistador who defeated the Aztecs Amerigo Vespucci – Italian sailor that explored the
Americas Francisco Pizarro – conquistador who defeated the Incas
WHO REALLY DISCOVERED THE AMERICAS?
Columbus?
The Vikings?
Amerigo Vespucci?
Clovis people?
The Native Americans?
RE-DISCOVERING THE AMERICAS What: Explorers looking for a quicker route to
trade with Asia Who: Henry the Navigator; Christopher
Columbus; sailors from Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy)
When: beginning in 1492 Where: from Europe across the Atlantic
Ocean to the Americas How: in large sailing ships that took weeks to
cross the ocean Why: see next slide
WHY DID THEY WANT TO EXPLORE THE AMERICAS?1. To find a quicker route to Asia
Others were jealous of Italy’s trade with China 2. To find gold, silver gems and other valuables
Increase the wealth of their country3. To claim new land for their country
Mercantilism; raw materials to send home and markets for finished goods
4. To convert people to Christianity Missionaries believed they were on a mission
from God5. For adventure
And who doesn’t like adventure?
CONQUERING THE AMERICAS The Spanish wanted to take control of Central
and South America and sent conquistadors to the New World. They conquered the Aztecs in Mexico and the
Incas in Peru They did this by making alliances with other
tribes, spreading of European diseases killing millions of Native Americans and with better technology & weapons
SPANISH CONQUISTADORSHernando Cortes (Aztecs) Francisco Pizarro (Incas)
HOMEWORK Section assessment questions on page 33, #
3, 4 & 6 only
Vocabulary for chapter2 section 2 in your notes for tomorrow on page 34
SECTION 2: EUROPEAN COMPETITION IN NORTH AMERICA Vocabulary
Galleon – sailing ship Spanish Armada – large fleet of ships sent to invade
England People
Henry Hudson – English explorer in New York John Cabot - Italian explorer in Canada Giovanni de Verrazano - Italian explorer trying to find
water route to Asia Jacques Cartier – French explorer in Canada Samuel de Champlain – French explorer in Canada
Places New France – first permanent French settlement in NA New Netherlands – first permanent Dutch settlement
in NA
THE RACE TO EXPLORE NORTH AMERICA What: other European countries looking for a
quick route to wealth and to Asia Who: The English & French; men like Hudson,
Cabot & Cartier When: 1500s Where: northern US and around Canada How: explorers tried sailing around Canada
and up the St Lawrence Seaway to try to get to Asia
Why: other European countries were jealous of Spain’s success and wealth and tried to find profit in North America
SPAIN RESPONDS TO COMPETITION Spain and the other European countries
eventually came into conflict over wealth and resources in North America Spanish conquistadors in Southeast US (Florida)
fought English and French explorers Spain also sent an armada to block England from
sending more ships England defeated the armada, showing:
1. Spain can be beaten 2. England is becoming powerful
FRENCH AND DUTCH ESTABLISH COLONIES French explorers like de Champlain explore
Canada and start outposts like Quebec Home to fur traders and religious missionaries Allied with some Native Americans in trade;
fought other enemy tribes
Dutch explorers explore areas around New York New York City used to be called New Amsterdam
WHERE ARE MOST OF THE SETTLEMENTS?
HOMEWORK Section assessment question from page 39,
# 3, 4 & 5
Put vocabulary from chapter 2 section 3 on page 40 in your notes
SECTION 3: THE SPANISH AND NATIVE AMERICANS Vocabulary
Encomienda – grant of Native American slave labor
Hacienda – large farm or estate Mission – settlement created by Spanish church
to try to convert NAs to Christianity Plantation – large farm that raises a cash crop Export – things send out for sale or trade Columbian Exchange – transfer of plants, animals
and diseases from Western (New World) to Eastern (Old World) hemispheres
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGE What: bringing plants, animals and diseases
from Europe to the Americas and from the Americas to Europe
When: beginning in the 1500s How: brought over by sailors and explorers on
ships and taken back to Europe Some things are traded for while others escape
and got out of control Why: Many people’s lives changed because of
the Columbian exchange. Some good and some bad Many things we eat today would not have existed
if these 2 worlds had not met.
THE COLUMBIAN EXCHANGENew World Old World
WHAT DID YOU EAT TODAY?
SPANISH COLONIES IN THE AMERICAS The Spanish quickly began to set up colonies
in the New World They grew crops to send back to Spain
Many of these crops were grown on large plantations and required slave labor
The Spanish kept tight control of the colonies and many Native Americans and enslaved Africans suffered
THE CHURCH IN SPANISH COLONIES The Spanish also sent missionaries from the
Catholic church to the New World They wanted to convert the Native Americans to
Catholicism The Native Americas did not like being forced to
adopt the new religion and many rebelled
HOMEWORK Write an ID using the notes we have taken in
the chapter to turn in
Section 4 vocabulary in your notes or on note cards
Review on Tuesday 9/11 Test on Wednesday 9/12
SECTION 4: BEGINNINGS OF SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAS Vocabulary
Slavery – the practice of one person being owned by another
Middle passage – middle leg of triangular trade that brought captive Africans to the Americas as slaves
Slave codes – laws passed to regulate the treatment of slaves
Racism – belief that some people are inferior because of their race
Maroon – a runaway or fugitive slave
THE SLAVE TRADE AND THE MIDDLE PASSAGE What: the practice of buying & selling people
to be used as free/cheap labor Who: Europeans buying & selling Africans;
Africans selling other Africans When: beginning in the 1500s Where: going from Africa to the Americas; to
work on large plantation farms How: Africans would capture other Africans
and sell them to Europeans to be taken to the Americas to work as slaves
Why: see next slide
WHY USE AFRICANS AS SLAVES? They are immune to most Europeans diseases
They have no friends or family in the Americans to help them escape or resist
Provide a permanent source of free/cheap labor Including children
Many Africans had worked on farms in their native lands and had the skills
Sold into slavery Sold at auction
SLAVERY IN THE AMERICAS The practice of slavery grew in the Americas
In some places the number of Africans outnumbered the Europeans
Slave codes were passed that had harsh punishments for slaves if they tried to rebel
Because of all this slavery, Europeans begin to think of themselves as superior and look down on the Africans as inferior Racism begins to take hold in the Americas
WRAP UP: HOW DID EUROPEANS CHANGE LIFE IN THE AMERICAS? (SEE CHART ON PAGE 51)
1. European Explorers
2. Establish colonies
3. Compete for colonies
4. Columbian exchange
5. Introduced slavery
1. Expand empires and grow in wealth and power
2. Spread of Christianity and culture; many natives die
3. Growth of English colonies
4. New food item introduced to both societies
5. Provide free/cheap labor; racism grows
Causes Effects
HOMEWORK Key idea questions on page 54 –
# 19, 21, 22, 25, 26 & 27
Review: Tuesday 9/11 Test: Wednesday 9/12
CONQUERING THE AMERICAS What: The Spanish take control of Central and
South America Who: Spanish conquistadors versus Native
Americans (Aztecs and Incas) When: early 1500s AD Where: The Aztecs in Mexico and the Incas in
Peru How: by making alliances with their enemies,
spread of European diseases killing millions of Native Americans, better technology & weapons
Why: to control the people and the land and resources
SPAIN RESPONDS TO COMPETITION What: conflict between Spanish conquistadors
and other Europeans Who: Spanish fighting the English and French When: mid 1500s Where: Southeast US (Florida) & in Europe How: Spanish conquistadors fight other
Europeans in the New World; back in Europe an armada from Spain threatens England but is defeated
Why: the defeat of the Spanish armada shows 1. Spain can be beaten 2. England is becoming powerful