SST: Europeans Reach the Americas

important dates to know:

(1499: Amerigo Vespucci reaches the mouth of the Amazon River. 1502: Vespucci names South America the Mundus Novus. (Separate from Asia) 1505: Juan Bermudez discovers Bermuda.) 1513: Vasco Nunez de Balboa sights the Pacific Ocean. (Via the Isthmus of Panama) (1513: Juan Ponce de Leon searches for the fountain of youth. (Claims Florida for Spain)) 1518/1519: Hernan Cortes enters Tenochtitlan and begins the conquest of Aztec Empire. 1519: Magellan rounds the tip of South America and heads across Pacific. (1522: Pascual de Andagoya discovers Perú. 1531: Francisco Pizarro conquers the Incan Empire.) 1539: Hernando De Soto conquers and colonizes present-day southeastern U.S.A. (1540: Grand Canyon discovered.) 1541: De Soto discovers the Mississippi River. (1549: Jesuit missionaries arrive in South America. 1551: Universities founded in Lima & Mexico City.) 1565: Menendez de Aviles founds St. Augustine in the Spanish Borderlands.

Who were other famous explorers who sailed to North America?

1497: John Cabot explores present-day Newfoundland (believing it was Asia). 1524: Giovanni da Verrazzano sails North America's coast from the Carolinas to Canada. 1541: Jacques Cartier founds the St. Lawrence River (on his 3rd voyage to N.A.).

What became of Christopher Columbus?

After his first voyage Columbus was given a hero's welcome in Spain. Ferdinand & Isabella asked the Pope if they could claim lands for Spain (& Christianity). The Pope agreed and Portugal immediately protested, resulting in a division of land. That is why Brazil speaks Portuguese while the surrounding countries speak Spanish. Upon his return Columbus put the Tainos to work looking for gold. Those who failed to fill their quota lost their hands or even their lives. Natives soon began to die of the infectious diseases brought by the Spanish. Columbus was brought to Spain for questioning but was allowed to return to America. Following a rebellion in Hispaniola, Columbus was sent back to Spain in shackles. Columbus was pardoned but lost his titles and his governorship. In 1502 Columbus began his final voyage, which he referred to as his "High Voyage." He brought his 14 year old son along who recorded many of the events. Reaching the Isthmus of Panama he never pursued the body of nearby water (Pacific). He returned to Spain in 1504 and died on May 20, 1506. Despite legend, he was not impoverished at the time of his death.

What was the true motive behind Columbus' journeys?

Ever since Marco Polo, Europeans desired the riches of Cathay (China). After the Crusades, Europe began an overland trade with the Orient. When Constantinople fell to the Turks in 1453, the spice route was closed. After the Middle Ages, Europe was moving from a barter economy to a cash one. During the 1400s Europeans began looking for an all water route to Asia. One consequence was the subsequent exploitation of Africa.

Where did Columbus first arrive?

Columbus first landed at an island he named San Salvador. He later reached Cuba and then Hispaniola (Haiti & the Dominican Republic).

What was his journey like?

Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492 using the Nina, Pinta, & Santa Maria (his flagship). He was promised 10% of all profits as well as a governorship. He was also given the title Admiral of the Ocean Sea. On October 12th Rodrigo de Triana, aboard the Pinta, spotted land. A reward was promised to the first man to spot land. Columbus claimed he himself had spotted land earlier so he could keep the reward.

Who started New York?

England, France, and The Netherlands all staked claim to pieces of North America. The Dutch founded New Netherlands, basing their claims on Hudson's explorations. Hudson had explored the Hudson River all the way to Albany.

What was the Northwest Passage?

Europeans believed there had to be a way to Asia through the Americas. Sir Humphrey Gilbert coined the term "Northwest Passage" in 1576. 1609: Henry Hudson makes an attempt on his ship, the Half Moon. 1610: Hudson tries again on the Discovery. His men mutiny and abandon him.

When did the French reach the New World?

France first came to the New World when Cartier sought a Northwest Passage in 1534. Cartier failed in his 1541 attempt to establish a French Colony in North America. France established temporary settlements in the 1500s for cod fishing and fur trading. France established a trading post called Tadoussac along the St. Lawrence in 1600. 1605: Port Royal, in present-day Nova Scotia becomes first French colony. (New France) 1608: Samuel de Champlain founds Quebec and befriends the Algonquian & Huron. 1609: French help native allies defeat the Iroquois, making themselves a new enemy. Much of France's early colonial period was encompassed by war with the Iroquois. 1671: France's exploration led it to claim western North America in honor of Louis XIV. 1682: La Salle solidifies France's claim and names its new territory, Louisiana. England contested the claim, setting the stage for the battle over North America.

What did Columbus find?

He did not find the vast gold he desired but was exposed to tobacco. Tobacco later became the cash crop that allowed the English colonies to survive. It was first brought back to Spain in 1555

Who Really "Discovered" America? The Truth About Columbus: Did Christopher Columbus really discover America?

He did not really discover America. The answer would be "Not really. But sort of"

What led to his journey?

He was trying to find an all water route to Asia. He then, unsuccessfully to sell his plans to Portugal, Spain, England and France. He returned to Isabella & Ferdinand and convinced them the reward was worth the risk. At this time, Spain was fearful of Portugal's power. (Contrary to myth, Isabella did not pawn the crown jewels to finance the voyages.)

Did Columbus ever reach the mainland of the present-day United States?

No. During his 4 trips he never reached our mainland. He did reach the coast of present-day Venezuela as well as the Isthmus of Panama. What he did do was begin an unparalleled period of conquest & colonization. His bravery, persistence, and seamanship have earned him a place in history.

Was everything about Columbus' journeys positive?

No. His arrival actually marks the beginning of one of history's cruelest episodes. He enslaved the local population. Natives were subject to centuries of genocide (the deliberate killing of a large group of people) at the hands of Europeans. Natives encountered warfare, forced labor, draconian punishments, and disease. Centuries of European colonization changed the face of the Americas forever.

If Columbus didn't really discover America, who did?

Of course, Natives arrived thousands (as many as 30,000+) of years ago via Beringia. Vikings, led by Leif Eriksson explored and settled Vinland (Newfoundland) in 1001 A.D. Irish legend speaks of a St. Brendan who came to the Americas in the 800s or 900s A.D. Some experts believe a Chinese sailor circumnavigated the globe in the 1300s. It is widely believed European fishermen fished off of Cape Cod in the 1300 & 1400s.

How did the Spanish rule their colonies?

Spain enacted codes called the "Laws of the Indies" Three types of settlements were established: Pueblos, Presidios, & Missions Four Social Classes were created: Peninsulares, Creoles, Mestizos, & Indians A law known as "Encomiendas" was created to require labor from and taxing of natives Spanish settlers began to establish the first plantations in the Americas. Father de Las Casas gets Spain to outlaw the enslavement of natives in the 1540s African slaves had been imported since 1517.

Where Were The First European Settlements In The New World?: How much of the Americas did the Spanish really explore?

Spain roamed most of the Americas long before the English ever came. Spain may have controlled all of the Americas had its Armada succeeded in 1588. The goal of exploration and colonization was to acquire gold for the Spanish Crown. Many Spanish explorers were killed by natives or by rival Spaniards.

Basic slave trade info you must know

The "modern" African slave trade began in 1441 It was begun by Portugal (along with Africans) By 1460, 1,000 Africans were being shipped to Europe annually Europeans primarily traded guns for slaves (as well as cloth, rum etc) The trip bringing Africans to the Americas was called the Middle Passage Over a 400 year period, over 11 million Africans were captured and sold into slavery

Why were the Dutch able to lay claim to such valuable territory?

The Dutch had the world's largest merchant marine fleet in the early 1600s. Amsterdam was the busiest and richest European city of the time. 1621: The Dutch West India Co. is formed to get control over trade with the New World. The Dutch soon gain control over the slave and sugar trade from the Portuguese. 1624: Fort Orange (present-day Albany) was established as a fur trading outpost. 1626: New Amsterdam (present-day NYC) is established as a trading village.

Did the Indians really sell Manhattan for $24?

The first Dutch settlers in the region never paid the natives for the land they claimed. 1624: Peter Minuit arrives and is chosen as the leader of the Dutch settlement. Minuit met with the local chiefs and offered a sales agreement for Manhattan Island. The package probably included hatchets, cloth, metal pots, and bright beads. The value of the package was said to be 60 Dutch guilders. 60 Dutch guilders were equal to 2,400 English cents at the time. (Thus the $24 figure.)

Why is our country not the United States of Columbus?

The naming of America can be called one of the cruel tricks of history. Amerigo Vespucci was another Italian who sailed for Spain. He even helped outfit Columbus' voyages. Vespucci first came to the Americas in 1499, returning several more times. Vespucci's travels became more famous than Columbus' did in their day. His voyages became synonymous with the term Mundus Novus (New World). A new version of Ptolemy referred to the New World as "America" in Vespucci's honor.