Explorers of the PNW
British Exploration
• Agenda
– Objectives
– Activity
– Review
– Preview
• Objectives
– Upon completion of this lesson students should
be able to…
• explain the motivations for British exploration of the
PNW.
• identify four key British sailors for their contributions to
PNW exploration.
• describe two conflicts between Britain and Spain
regarding PNW exploration.
• Activity
– Work in groups
– Read pages 119-126 in textbook
– Identify and describe:
• British motivations
• Four British sailors
• Spanish and British conflicts
• Looks like:
– Textbooks open
– Name on notes sheet
– Sitting at desks
– Looking at each other
• Sounds like:
– Quiet conversation
– “Thanks” “Please” “You’re welcome” “What was
the answer to number one again?”
• Review
– Motivations
– Sailors
– Conflicts
• Motivations
– Spain’s strong navy in the Mid and South Atlantic
forced the English northward
– Northwest Passage
• A route that would bypass the Spanish navy on the way
to Asia
– POWER
– Also acceptable:
• A desire to make territorial claims
• Sailors
– Sir Francis Drake
– James Cook
– John Meares
– George Vancouver
• Sir Francis Drake
– 1577-1578
– Sailed Oregon coast
– Stole Spanish gold
– Circumnavigated globe
– Knighted for bravery
– His heist led to failed Spanish invasion of England
and the destruction of the Spanish Armada
• James Cook
– 1778
– Sailed coast from Oregon to Alaska
– Saw economic value in PNW trade (fish, fur,
forests)
• John Meares
– 1788 and 1792
– Made two trips
– Sailed into Willapa Bay
– Unknowingly sailed 300 yards up Columbia River
– Built a lumber mill
– Traded with China
• George Vancouver
– 1792-1794
– Explored Vancouver Island and Puget Sound
– Did not explore Columbia River
– Named features and water bodies
– Helped settle Nootka Sound controversy
• Conflict 1
– Spanish-British war
•
•
•
•
Drake stole gold
Spanish angry – attempt to invade England
Spanish armada destroyed
British become most powerful navy and country
• Conflict 2
– Nootka Sound controversy
• Spanish seize Meares’ ships and men
• Bodega y Quadra and Vancouver meet in summer 1792
• Spanish agree to release Meares’ ships, men and pay
$210,00 in restitution
• Preview
– Wednesday: Nootka Controversy
– Thursday: No School. Have fun. Be safe. Do
homework?
– Friday: U.S. and Russian Exploration