American History Chapter 2

Christopher Columbus

A Spanish explorer in search of Asia but discovered the continents of North & South America instead; died believing he had found Asia; also discovered the Caribbean Islands

Trappers

Adventurers who use 'traps' to capture and kill animals (like Beaver) for their fur

Trade

France & England saw the value in having a Trade relationship with Native Americans; economically dependent on each other

French & Native American Interactions

France made native Americans their business partners and developed a fairly friendly relationship with the Indians

Peter Stuyvesant

Governor of New Amsterdam; the Dutch (he) surrendered Manhattan Island in 1664 to the English without a single shot fired

The European nations competed to claim lands in the New World by planting their nation's Flag on unclaimed lands, while claimed lands were captured by force with violence. Their riches were acquired by capitalizing on natural resources of the land (gold, fur, crops) for profit.

How did European nations compete to claim lands and riches in the New World?

Early European explorers and settlers influenced the formation of America as a nation through exploration, trade, and the establishment of thirteen permanent colonies.

How did early European explorers and settlers influence the formation of America as a nation?

Spanish borderlands

Land claimed by conquistadors that were located on the far edges of Spain's North American Empire; borderlands extended west from Florida, across present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California; discovered by Spain

The European name for the Americas. These continents were a "new" world for the Europeans, but not for the native peoples who lived there

New World

New Amsterdam

Present-day New York; a Manhattan Island settlement resulting from the fur trade expansion; Peter Minuit (New Netherland's governor) traded knives, beads, blankets, and iron pots with island's Indians in exchange for Manhattan Island; named after the capital city of the Netherlands; Dutch discovery

Spanish & Native American Interactions

Spanish ruled Native Americans as a conquered people and forced Indians for work for them; Spanish missionaries worked with Indians to convert them to Catholicism

Conquistadors

Spanish soldiers-explorers sent across the Atlantic to conquer an empire for Spain; conquered the native peoples of Mexico and Peru; sought riches for themselves

John Cabot

Sponsored by England's King Henry VII; 2nd European explorer to discover the coast of North America; claimed all of North America for England

Jacques Cartier

Sponsored by France; Discovered New France; present-day Canada

Christopher Columbus

Sponsored by King Ferdinand & Queen Isabella of Spain; the first explorer to discover the continents of North & South America

Hernán Cortés

Sponsored by Spain; he was a conquistador; conquered the Aztecs Empire; present-day Mexico

New Netherlands

Territory along the Hudson River (named for Henry Hudson, an English sailor who discovered the river for the Netherlands); the present-day Albany New York; dutch fur merchants formed the Dutch West India Company and established trading posts along the Hudson River; Dutch discovery

The Columbian Exchange

The transfer of people, plants, crops, animals, & diseases back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean between the Old World & the New World; spread the Catholic religion; financial gain; still happening today

Slavery

The treatment of people as property for the purpose of forcing them to do labor. People who are denied 'freedom' are called slaves and are said to be enslaved

The arrival of Europeans brought new farming techniques, ideas, technology, and Christianity to Native American life, but they also brought with them deadly diseases and slavery.

What changes did the arrival of Europeans bring to Native American life?

Pocahontas

the favorite daughter of Chief Powhatan; saved Captain John Smith from death and acted as a peacekeeper between her tribe and the colonists; was later kidnapped by new English settlers; she learned English, adopted the Christian faith, and married Englishman John Rolfe

New France

Known as modern day Canada; discovered by Jacques Cartier; France discovery

Dutch & Native American Interactions

Dutch traded goods for Manhattan Island because native Americans didn't believe "land could be owned"

Juan Ponce de León

Discovered La Florida (flowery); the present-day State of Florida; Spain discovery

Henry Hudson

Discovered New Netherlands; the present-day Albany New York; Dutch discovery

English & Native American Interactions

English relationship with native Americans fell somewhere in between Spain & France

Jamestown

First English colony founded by John Cabot; land was marshy and infested with disease-carrying mosquitos and surrounded by a large Native American group; the present-day State of Virginia; England discovery