The New Ventures

By: Matt W, Cam M, Mike L, Todd B, Jamie M

Section Focus

The English, French and Dutch, following the lead of the

Spanish, wanted to find water routes through the New

World. This section focuses on how the French, Dutch and

most notably the English expanded their exploration and

colonization in the Americas.

England vs. Spain Conflict

• The English did not really begin their vast expansion in the America’s until the 1600’s• Some reasons for this were:

•Threat of war with Spain•Religious conflicts•Colonization of Ireland•Poor finances

• In 1497 King Henry VII Authorized John Cabot to sail to the lands in the East, West, and North unknown by Christians.

• Cabot explored the coast of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and believed he had found Asia. However, upon the second expedition found that it was green and deserted. After, the English westward exploration lost its support.

• About 80 years later, the English were concerned with Spain’s immense global threat, and not wanting to compete with Spain in the America’s openly, she financed Martin Frobisher to find a passage through America to Asia.

• Queen Elizabeth also unofficially approved piracy against Spanish ships and settlements, which caused the English – Spanish conflict.

• King Phillip II dispatched the Spanish Armada to sail against the English fleet. It consisted of 130 ships and 27000 troops.

• However greatly outnumbered, the English ships were faster and therefore won the battle and cleared the way for England to settle in the America’s.

• The colonization of the America’s brought vast changes to European culture and society. Colonies played important roles in the mercantilism system. Mercantilism helped England achieve massive wealth which caused them to be a colonial power.

The French: Fur Trappers and Priests

• French Colonies in North America formed a long string of out-posts.

• French were directly interested in the fur trade.

• Beaver skin hats were their most profitable item.

• The French had good relationships with the Native Americans, excluding the Iroquois.

• French traders were known as ‘coureurs de bois’ or ‘runners of the woods’.• French traders took up residence with the Native Americans.

• Took their traditions and past-times.• Married into their families.

• French missionaries were known to the Native Americans as ‘black robes’.• The ‘black robes’ attempted to convert the Natives to Catholicism.

Disinterest in the Colonies• The French had trouble recruiting colonists for its North American settlements.

• The North American settlements were not as valuable as possessions in the West Indies.

• The islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Saint Dominique produced valuable sugar crops.

The Dutch in America• Netherlands won independence from Spain in the late 1500’s.

• Had few natural resources and limited farmland• Netherlands had to increase trade and commerce for survival.

• 1600’s were the golden ages for the Dutch.

• Dutch ships could carry more cargo and less crew than any other ships.

• Dutch people had high standards of living hence their ability to explore North America.

• Dutch already established trading posts in Asia, Indonesia, and the only trading post in Japan.

• They controlled the East Indies and maintained many slave ports in West Africa.

• They claimed South Africa by setting up the small colony of Cape Town and they also had holdings in the Caribbean islands.

• In 1609 the Dutch East India Company funded an expedition by Henry Hudson.

• He sailed up which is now the Hudson river and went as far as Albany, New York.

• The Dutch set up trading posts on Manhattan island along the Hudson river and called it New Amsterdam.

• A profitable fur trade was established with the Native Americans.

•Few people were interested in settling New Amsterdam, but the population was extremely multi-cultural.

• It was reported that up to 18 languages were spoken in New Amsterdam.

• Because of poor leadership and weak government, New Amsterdam fell easily to the growing colonial influence of England in 1664