Exploration

Discovering America

Christopher Columbus

His voyage was set to discover the West Indies

Instead he discovered America

“1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue”

Columbus Voyage

* Although King Ferdinand was opposed to the project, Queen Isabella agreed to support Columbus expedition. The Queen declared that she would pledge her crown jewels to supply the money.

* Friday morning, Aug. 3, 1492, 120 souls set sail for the New World “In the name of Christ”

What was the name of the three ships?

• Nina

• Pinta

• Santa Maria

“ Land ! Land ! “ Friday, the 12th of October, 1492

Columbus was the first to land; and as soon as he touched the shore he fell down upon his knees and kissed the ground, thanking God for the great favor bestowed upon him. The others followed his example; and then, recognizing Spain which had crowned his efforts with success. Columbus thought he had reached the wealthy land of the Indies, and so called the natives, Indians.

The natives dwelling on the island were found to be a well proportioned people with fine bodies, simple in their habits and customs, friendly, though shy in manner, and they were perfectly naked. They thought the huge ships to be monsters risen from the sea or gods come down from heaven. Presents were exchanged with them, including gold bracelets worn by the natives. Columbus asked where the gold came from. The natives pointed by gestures to the southwest.

Explorers of the New World

The Exploration of the New World

The men who led the expeditions to the New World faced the unknown of uncharted waters, the threat of disobedient crews, and often peculiar natives who might offer friendship, or might roast and eat the uninvited visitor. These men were sometimes motivated by spreading the Gospel to new lands, and sometimes motivated by the hopes of riches and power or eternal youth.

Race to Claim America

• Spain

• France

• England

Three G’s

GOLD- search for wealth

GLORY-search for fame

GOD- to convert to Christianity

Ponce De Leon  1513

► remembered as the discoverer of Florida, set out in search of the Fountain of Youth, a fountain whose waters would restore youth to the aged. but instead found an untimely death at the hands of the natives of Florida

Hernando Cortez 1519

► military officer► of a good family;

studied law ► Conquered the

Aztec empire in Mexico

► Seized its vast gold treasures

Fernando De Soto1539-1542 

► expedition to conquer Florida

► discovered the Mississippi river while searching for gold.

► He died of a fever on the shores of the river

Jacques Cartier

1534 claimed the Great St. Lawrence River- called by the Iroquois Indians as “The road to Canada”

Found a treasure trove of fish that made them money

Samuel de Champlain

Father of New France

1608 founded Quebec, the first successful French settlement in the New World

Developed a fur trade with the Indians

La Salle 1682

Was determined to reach the Gulf of Mexico and discovered Texas

He did reach it and made a bigger claim the entire Mississippi River Valley

was murdered by rebellious colonists as he tried to establish a colony in Texas

French Succeeded

They got along with the Indians They learned their language Treated the Indians like business partners Found their riches in fish and fur

John Cabot1497

• King Henry VII paid him $50 to find a North America passage to Asia

• Instead discovered Newfoundland

Sir Walter Raleigh 1584

• famous for his efforts in colonizing Virginia,

• was beheaded by an ungrateful monarch in England.

• Capital of North Carolina is named after him

The Lost Colony

• Sir Raleigh sent 117 people to settle Roanoke Island, North Carolina.

• 1591 they disappeared leaving the name of an Indian tribe “Croatoan”

• What do you think happened?

Sir Francis Drake Dragon Drake

• Pirated Spanish ships carrying American gold while England grew rich from the stolen treasure (this angered Spain)

• Spain wanted England to punish him but instead Queen Elizabeth made him a knight

Defeat of the Spanish Armada1588

King Phillip sent 130 ship armada to invade and punish England

Stretch seven miles long Unfortunately the Spanish Armada was

defeated and the Spanish empire declined as England became ruler of the Sea

Few of the explorers found the riches they sought, but they did discover vast new lands and planted the seeds of the first 13 original

colonies.