7th Grade History Reference Sheet #1 Unit 1: European Exploration & Invasion Spanish, French and Dutch Colonization Columbian Exchange Spanish Colonization By the mid-1400’s European nations faced increased competition for foreign trade. In particular, technological advances and the Renaissance resulted in renewed interest in exploration and desire for the wealth of trade with the Indies. Powerful nations such as Spain began searching for new routes to Asia to obtain the valuable spices, silk, gems and gold. The land routes there were long and dangerous. An Italian navigator named Christopher Columbus came up with a daring plan to get to Asia. He would sail west across the Atlantic Ocean. At the time, nobody knew that a great landmass blocked the route to Asia. Desperate for money to make the trip, Columbus obtained support from King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Columbus desired the riches and wealth that would come from the discovery of a new trade route, as did the King and Queen of Spain. He sailed in 1492, and when he finally reached land, he believed he had reached the Indies. There he encountered a peaceful Native American group, the Taino, which he called Indians. The Spanish rulers and Columbus wanted to look for gold, and the Natives were forced to mine for it, without success. However, the climate of the Caribbean where Columbus had landed was well suited for sugar plantations (sugar was highly prized and expensive). The Spanish established the Encomienda system in which the Natives were used as forced labor. After Columbus’s first voyage, Spain sent more soldier explorers (conquistadores) to claim more lands and find more riches. They were accompanied by missionaries sent to convert the Natives to Christianity. The Spanish conquered the Aztec of Mexico in 1521, and the Inca in Peru in 1533. By 1534 Spain had established the colony of New Spain in the Americas. Beginning with Columbus, Spanish ships carried horses, cows, pigs, wheat, barley and sugar cane. These plants and animals were new to the Americas. The Spanish also carried diseases such as smallpox to which the Natives had no immunity. Epidemics swept through Native settlements severely depleting the Native populations. Columbus and the other Spanish explorers sent home new animals and foods such as potatoes, corn, peanuts, cacao and tomatoes. This transfer of goods, people, disease, ideas and technology between the Old World and the New World became known as the Columbian Exchange. It is estimated that in some areas, European diseases wiped out 90% of the native population. French and Dutch Colonization: The French colonized North America to create trading posts for the fur trade. Some French missionaries eventually made their way to North America in order to convert Native Americans to Catholicism. The original intent of Dutch colonization was to find a path to Asia through North America, but after finding the fur trade profitable, the Dutch claimed the area of New Netherlands. Unlike the Spanish and English, the French and Dutch created few permanent settlements. French settlements were initially made up of fur traders, merchants, and missionaries, so that there were fewer than 5,000 settlers by 1672. Dutch settlements were also relatively small. The goals of both the French and Dutch revolved around the fur trade. Unlike the Spanish and English, the French and Dutch fostered good relationships with Native Americans. The French in particular created alliances with the Hurons and Algonquians. Both the Dutch and the French relied on marriages with Native Americans to expand their fur trading operations. By the End of Unit 1, you will be able to answer… • • • What motivated European nations to explore and colonize the Americas? Compare the economic, political and social developments of early European colonies. What were the various impacts of interactions between Native Americans and Europeans from 1500 to 1600? Key Terms Key People Christopher Columbus Bartolome de Las Casas Samuel de Champlain King Ferdinand/Queen Isabella An Italian explorer responsible for the Europeans arrival in the Americas in 1492. He had sailed across the Atlantic Ocean from Spain, under the patronage of the king and queen, Ferdinand and Isabella, hoping to find a westward route to India. Spanish missionary (Franciscan Friar) in the Americas and author of A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies. He opposed the brutal treatment of the natives by the Spanish conquistadores and settlers. French explorer, known as the Father of New France. He founded the first French settlement in the Americas – Quebec, Canada. He established a trading post revolving around the beaver fur trade and allied local natives to aid in the acquisition of pelts (fur). King and Queen of Spain. They provided funding for Columbus’ voyages to the Americas. Key Groups Conquistadores Aztec/Inca Spanish soldier-explorers, especially those who conquered the Native peoples of Mexico and Peru Advanced Native American civilizations of Mexico and Peru. Both were conquered and essentially wiped out by disease (smallpox) brought by Spanish explorers and the conquistadores Cortez and Pizarro. Europeans from the nation of Spain – the Spanish were motivated by Gold, God and Glory to explore and colonize the Americas, establishing New Spain in the New World. The Spanish established the Encomienda system which used the forced labor of native peoples to mine for gold and work the sugar plantations. Europeans from the nation of France. The French were motivated to explore and colonize the Americas by Gold God and Glory. They established New France in what is today Canada, and along the Mississippi River. The French largely focused on the beaver fur trade and allied with local native groups. Europeans from the Netherlands – the Dutch were motivated by the desire for wealth to colonize the New World. The established New Netherlands as a series of trading posts, which like the French, focused on the beaver fur trade. Northeastern woodland Native American group and enemy of the Huron whom had allied with the French in the fur trade. The Iroquois fought the Huron and their French allies in the Beaver Wars. Northeastern woodlands Native American tribe that allied with the French and fought the Iroquois in the Beaver Wars. A person who travels to a territory or community in order to convert others to their religion. French missionaries = Jesuits. Spanish missionaries = Franciscan Friars. Spanish French Dutch Iroquois Huron Missionary Places and Events New Spain New France New Netherlands Colonization Northwest Passage Beaver Wars Name Spain gave to their established territory in the Americas – it covered much of Central and South America, and what today is the Southwest United States The area colonized by France in North America – it covered much of what is today Canada and around the Mississippi River. The colony of the Netherlands that was located on the east coast of America.. The Dutch surrendered Fort Amsterdam on Manhattan island to England in 1664. The action or process of settling among and establishing control over the indigenous people of an area A sea route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean through northwestern America, often unsuccessfully sought by early explorers as a way to reach the Indies. The Beaver Wars were battles for economic welfare throughout the St. Lawrence River valley in Canada and the lower Great Lakes region. The wars were between the Iroquois trying to take control of the fur trade from the Hurons, the northern Algonquians, and their French allies. Structures, Systems and Ideas Colony Gold, God and Glory Columbian Exchange Convert/Conversion Encomienda System Fur Trade Transatlantic Slave Trade A new settlement or territory established and governed or ruled by a country in another land. Colonies bring wealth and profit to their governing nation. The main motives of the explorers during the Age of Exploration. “Gold” stands for the desire for gold, but also wealth in general. "God" stands for the desire to spread and expand Christianity. "Glory" stands for greater power and a larger empire. The Columbian Exchange was a widespread exchange of animals, plants, culture, human populations, communicable disease, and ideas between the New World (the Americas) and the Old World (Europe/Asia/Africa) following the voyage to the Americas by Christopher Columbus in 1492. To change one's religious faith or other beliefs. The Spanish often used force to convert natives where as the French made attempts to gain trust and persuade the natives to convert. The encomienda system was a method by which the Spanish crown rewarded colonial settlers by granting them a group of natives whom they would civilize and convert to Christianity, in return for gifts in the form of labor, taxes, or goods as tribute. This system resulted in the forced labor of natives accompanied by brutal treatment, and the establishment of a social hierarchy which placed the Spanish on top, and the natives on the bottom. The fur trade is a worldwide business dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. The French and the Dutch gained wealth in the trade of highly desired beaver fur pelts. Passage of Africans from Africa across the Atlantic to the American colonies via the Middle Passage. The Spanish began to use African Slaves to replace the dwindling population of native peoples they had originally used as forced labor. Timeline 1492 Christopher Columbus lands on Hispaniola 1680: 1521: Hernan Cortez conquers the Aztec 1532: Francisco Pizarro conquers the Inca. 1540: Spain sends Coronado to conquer the North American Southwest 1608: Samuel de Champlain establishes New France, Quebec 1621: The Dutch start a colony in America, Fort Orange 1642-1698: Beaver Wars Pueblo Revolt to overthrow Spanish rule and forced conversion in the Southwest.
