Reasons for Spanish, French and English exploration, settlement, and development in North

America

Settling the “New World”

Political turmoil Religious freedomEconomic 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

Why Leave Home??

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.

“I Love Gold!”

Spanish Exploration and Settlement

“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

A History of Spanish Exploration

Hernan CortesSent to Mexico in 1519Searching 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

Francisco PizarroInspired by Cortes’

success1531 – 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

CortesAztec EmpireNorth America

(Mexico)In search of richesMoctezuma

wounded in battle (then died)

Incan EmpireSouth America

(Peru)In search of richesAtahualpa killed by

Pizarro

Defeating the Empires

Pizarro

How did they succeed??• Weaponry• Horses• Smallpox

Conquistadores in FloridaJuan Ponce de Leon

Searching richesLegend: searching for

the fountain of youthSent by King

Ferdinand1513 - Landed in

FloridaFought American

Indians, found no gold, found no Fountain

Founded a settlement in 1521

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca1528 - 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

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 1542 looking for gold/new route to China

Exploration gave Spain claim to the Pacific coast

GOLD!!

So – Where Were They?

And How Did They Get There?

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

Ruling

Canadian and Great Lakes Exploration in the Name of Fur!

The French in 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 CatholicismHow is this similar to the Spanish?How is this different from the Spanish?

French Exploration of North America

The first French settlement was in FloridaDo you remember what the Spanish named

that fort?It was founded by “Huguenots” – French

ProtestantsFrance lagged behind Spanish exploration in

part because of religious fighting in FranceThe Catholics and the Huguenots were in

conflictApproximately 200,00 were driven out of

France during this timeSome fled to other European countries, while

others travelled to the “New World”

Original Settlement

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 westReached the St. Lawrence River and Great

LakesFounded Quebec (1608)Also explored New York and Vermont

France Begins Exploring

Fur was in high demand in Europe

Fur was abundant around the Great LakesFur – especially beaver pelts – were used

to make hatsThe French traded with the American

Indians – exchanged tools, jewelry and cloth for fursHad to travel into the wilderness to tradeUsually travelled by water

Through Montreal (1642), furs were shipped back to France

Water and Fur

Trading posts were established

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 MexicoHe claimed the lands for FranceHe honored King Louis XIV by naming the area

Louisiana

France Continues Exploring

Where Did They Go?

Had difficulty getting settlersHad 12,000 by 1688

Began to build outposts, particularly along waterwaysDetroit and New Orleans

Allied with the Algonquian and Huron IndiansBecause of strong trading tiesResult = enemy of the Iroquios

Attempting to Settle

Conflict Brewing??

Establishing a Stronghold in the New World

English Settlements

Permanent settlement in the “New World”Would expand British Empire

Investment in new opportunitiesAgricultureNatural Resources

Religious FreedomCatholics and Protestants were often in

conflict

Primary Reasons for Settlement

The “Lost Colony” of RoanokeSir Walter Raleigh

finances expeditionGroup 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

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

Received help from the Powhatan Confederacy – alliance of Algonquian IndiansSometimes brought food; taught to grow corn

Colony still struggled with famine and diseaseCapt. John Rolfe introduced a West Indian

strain of tobacco Became a successful export

Early Settlements – Jamestown Rebounds

“All our riches for the present doe consiste in Tobacco”

-John Porry 1619

A Protestant group – called “Puritans” – wanted to reform (purify) the Church of England (Anglican Church)Thought bishops/priests had too much powerThe most extreme group wanted to separate

from the Church of England entirelyThese “Separatists” began to be punished by

English leadersSeeking religious freedom, these people left

England for the NetherlandsEnjoyed religious freedom, but were losing

English traditions

Early Settlements - Plymouth

Early Settlements - Plymouth100+ people boarded the Mayflower in 1620

Landed in Massachusetts, even though their charter was for VirginiaHad to create rules/laws

Created the Mayflower CompactFirst attempt at self-governance

Gained aid from local American IndiansSquanto – fertilize soil and

establish relationships with tribesHarvest celebration =

Thanksgiving

Jamestown

For economic reasons

Mostly single men

Followed one primary leader (John Smith and John Rolfe)

For religious freedom

Family basedCreated a set of

rules “for the general good of the colony”

Early Settlements - Comparison

Plymouth