Early years/sailors/expeditions Flashcards
“Line of Demarcation”
A “line” drawn by the pope west of the Cape Verde Islands. Portugal’s territory was to the East of this line and Spain was to the west (drawn to prevent/reduce competition)
Treaty of Tordesillas
(1494) Made the “Line of Demarcation” move farther west because it had previously been favorable to Spain.
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
(1513) Crossed the isthmus of Panama and became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean
Juan Ponce
(1513) Originally searched for gold and fountain of youth, but ended up claiming Florida for Spain
Hernando Cortes
(1519) Destroyed the Aztec Empire with disease and his army
Panfilio de Narvaez
(1528) Led a disastrous expedition through the Gulf Coast region (4 of 400 men survived)
Hernando de Soto
(1539-1541) Discovered the Missisippi River. Led a 600 man expedition
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Led an expedition (1540-1542) from Mexico, across Rio Grande. First to see the Grand Canyon
John Cabot (Italian)
(1497) Sponsored by the king of England to find a Northwest Passage. First European since the Vikings to reach the mainland of North America, which he claimed for England
Giovannia da Verrazzano (Italian)
Tried to copy Ferdinand Magellan who had found a way around the southern tip of South America. Sailed the coast from North Carolina to Maine.
Jacques Cartier (1534)
Had three expeditions. Found St. Lawrence River (thought it was the Northwest Passage) Rapids prevented him from continuing further. Claimed the area for France
Huguenots
French Protestants attempting to escape persecution in Catholic France by settling in the New World. However, they were massacre by the Spaniards
Francis Drake
Sailed around South America and raided the Spanish settlements on the Pacific Coast of Central America. Claimed California for England. Sailed around the world and returned to England. His benefactor was Queen Elizabeth (Mary’s sister)
King Philip II (Spain)
Angry that Elizabeth had helped Protestant cause. Sent mighty Spanish Armada to conquer England (1588). However, it was conquered by England and North Sea storms. War lasted until 1604
Martin Frobisher
Sent to look for the Northwest passage by Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1576). Looked on the northeastern coast of Canada and instead found fool’s gold. Tried to found a colony in Newfoundland (1578). However, he was lost at sea.
Sir Walter Raleigh
Martin Frobisher’s brother who continued his brother’s work. He founded Virginia and the settlement known as Roanoke Island. (1587) Virginia Dare was the first English child born in America
John White
Leader of the settlement expedition at Roanoke Island. He returned to England to gather more supplies. Due to delays caused by war, he did not return until 1590, where he discovered that the colony was deserted. No one knows what happened to the settlers.
Who won the war between England and Spain?
England. James I was Queen Elizabeth’s successor
The Virginia Company of London
established the colony of Jamestown (1607) which became the first permanent English settlement in North America. Though the settlers at first died from starvation, the colony fought and remained, improving under John Smith (1608-09) and started growing/selling tobacco afters it’s discovery by John Rolfe in 1612
King James I
wanted Virginia for himself, because he was very impressed by the profits made from tobacco. Got rid of the Virginia Company of London in 1624 and made Virginia a royal colony.
Samuel de Champlain
Established a trading post in Quebec (1608) which was the starting point for the growth of New France. French traded fur with the Indians
Jacques Marquette
(1673) Explored the Mississippi Valley
Sieur de la Salle
(1682) Followed the Mississippi River to its mouth
Were the French successful in colonizing America?
Not really. Why? Inadequate population and a lack of support from the parent country
Henry Hudson (Englishman)
(1609) Sent by Holland to explore and locate a Northwest Passage. Discovered the Hudson River
Dutch trading posts
In 1624, Dutch trading posts were established on Manhattan Island and Albany to trade fur with the Indians
Were the New Netherlands succesfful in colonizing America?
No. Why? Insufficient population and a lazy government
Separatists/Puritans
The two groups were very similar, though # of Puritans > Separatists. They both fled from the Church of England and became the famous Pilgrims. Led by William Bradford and left in 1620. Landed in Massachusetts aboard the Mayflower in 1630.
John Winthrop
Taught the Pilgrims what a Christian society should look like
“Mayflower” Compact
A treaty signed by those pilgrims in order to form a structured and stable form of government
Massachusetts Bay Company (1629)
A joint-stock company established by the Puritans. Established in a place far away from royal officials
Roger Williams
Founded the settlement of Providence in 1636, after being asked to leave the Massachusetts colony due to disruptive behavior. Later obtained a charter from Parliament combining Providence, Portsmouth, and other settlements. These became Rhode Island. Filled with exiles and troublemakers.
Anne Hutchinson
Like Williams, was kicked out of the Massachusetts colony, but for a different reason. She taught things contrary to Puritan doctrine. She and her followers founded Portsmouth (1638). After continuing westward, she was later killed by Indians
Thomas Hooker
(1636) founded Hartford
John Davenport
(1637) led a group of Puritans and founded New Haven
