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MOTIVES FOR EUROPEAN EXPLORATION AND COLONIZATION “Exploring North America”
MOTIVES FOR EUROPEAN
EXPLORATION AND
COLONIZATION
“Exploring North America”
Causes of the Colonization &
Exploration era
Protestant
ReformationSearch for the
Northwest Passage
Early Trading Activities driven by Mercantilism
Motive #1: Protestant Reformation
Caused many English and Dutch religious rebels to
settle in North America for RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.
Includes
Pilgrims (Separatists)
Puritans
Quakers
Protestant Reformation
Many Protestants (non-Catholics) sought religious freedom in North America.
What was the Protestant Reformation?
A Christian reform movement
started by a priest, Martin Luther
Originally intended to reform the Catholic Church
Ultimately resulted in Protestantism, which became a separate branch of Christianity
Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the door of
the church
Protestant Reformation
England became a Protestant nation
when King Henry VIII, the King of
England, declared himself the head
of the Church of England, also
known as the Anglican Church.
This split was for personal, not
religious reasons.
Protestant Reformation
The Anglican
Church was still
very “Catholic” in
its practices and
traditions, so “true
Protestants” were
still not satisfied
with the new
Protestant church.
Protestant Reformation
England persecuted, or
harshly treated, those
who didn’t conform with
the church of England.
Dutch and English
Protestant dissenters
immigrated to North
America to practice their
religion freely.
Motive #2: Searching for the Northwest
Passage
European countries wanted to trade with Asia.
Water travel was faster than land travel.
It took too long to sail around the tip of Africa or
South America.
Europeans needed a western route to Asia that cut
through North America
Northwest Passage
Why were Europeans interested in Asia?
•
What were explorers searching for in their exploration of North America’s coast?
•
Why were explorers searching for this?
•
Northwest Passage
Why were Europeans interested in Asia?
• TRADE
What were explorers searching for in their exploration of North America’s coast?
•
Why were explorers searching for this?
•
Northwest Passage
Why were Europeans interested in Asia?
• TRADE
What were explorers searching for in their exploration of North America’s coast?
• A NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Why were explorers searching for this?
•
Northwest Passage
Why were Europeans interested in Asia?
• TRADE
What were explorers searching for in their exploration of North America’s coast?
• A NORTHWEST PASSAGE
Why were explorers searching for this?
• EUROPEAN NATIONS WANTED A QUICKER TRADE ROUTE TO ASIA
Motive #3: Mercantilism
What is mercantilism?
Mercantilism
What is mercantilism?
The economic theory that
a nation’s power was
based on its wealth
Mercantilism = Economic Rivalry
What fueled the competition?
$$$ from fishing and fur trading
American land and resources
Competing for power at home
in Europe
The Race to Claim America
After Christopher Columbus’ discoveries in America,
other European countries began racing west to claim
land.
The Columbian Exchange
exchange of goods, ideas, diseases and people
between Europe and the Americas
This was the most
NEGATIVE effect
of the Columbian
Exchange. Millions
of Native
Americans with no
immunity to
European diseases
died.
Hernando De Soto
Spanish
Sent by King Charles V of Spain to conquer Florida
(most of the southeastern mainland) and search for
gold.
Results
Explored Florida → crossed the Mississippi River →
explored areas of Arkansas
Never found gold
Took advantage of Native Americans
Jacques Cartier
French
Wanted to find gold and the
Northwest Passage to Asia
Results
Claimed the St. Lawrence River for France
Founded Montreal
Never found gold
Never found the Northwest Passage
Samuel De Champlain
French
Sent to establish a fur trading post and settlement
in Quebec
Results
Established New France (earned nickname “Father of
New France”)
◼ Founded Quebec- first permanent
French settlement in North America
Developed French fur trade
with Indians
Robert La Salle
French
Wanted to reach the Gulf of Mexico by traveling
down the Mississippi River
Results
Reached the Gulf of Mexico and claimed the entire
Mississippi River Valley for France
John Cabot
Sent by England
Searched for the Northwest Passage
Results
Never found the Northwest Passage
Claimed New Foundland (in Canada) for England
Henry Hudson
English
Searched for the Northwest Passage TWICE
Sent by Dutch… turned around.
Sent by English
Results
Discovered the Hudson River
and Hudson Bay
Sir Walter Raleigh
English
Sent by Queen Elizabeth to claim land for England
in North America
Results
Claimed land from present-day North Carolina to
Maine and named it Virginia, in honor of Queen
Elizabeth.
Sent 100 people to settle at Roanoke Island
off North Carolina, but colony disappeared
by 1591.
How did England become powerful enough to
claim the thirteen colonies?
By defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588!
Major turning point in history
Spain’s power declined and England ruled the seas.
England’s colonial
empire grew.
