Explorers Test
U.S. History I - Ms. Breitzman
Name: __________________________
Part I: Matching Match the person or term to the description. You will use ALL the terms only ONCE.
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado
Hernando de Soto
Ponce de Leon
Giovanni da Verrazano
Henry Hudson
Jacques Cartier
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Samuel de Champlain
Jacques Marquette/Louis Joliet
Robert LaSalle
John Cabot
Christopher Columbus
Amerigo Vespucci
Ferdinand Magellan
Francisco Pizarro
Hernando Cortez
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
After conquering Puerto Rico, he traveled north where he named and explored “La Florida” because all he found were flowers
and natives. He thought this land was an island (not aware that the rest of North America was still there). ________________
Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec empire in Mexico.____________________________
The first explorers to make it to Wisconsin, who both sailed and portaged through Wisconsin (Fox River to the Wisconsin River,
eventually reaching the Mississippi River). They did not travel all the way down the Mississippi because they were afraid of the
Spanish, which the natives warned them about. _______________________________
Crossed the Isthmus of Panama and was the first European explorer to make it to the east coast of the Pacific Ocean in 1513.
Established a French settlement in current day Quebec in 1608 and was the first European to explore and describe the Great
Lakes and publish maps of his journeys. _______________________________
English sea explorer who was sent to find the Northwest Passage to India, and on his final voyage he discovered a strait and an
immense bay in what is present day New York City and Canada – which were both named after him. _____________________
In an attempt to find the Northwest Passage for England, this explorer decided to start at a more northern latitude so it would
make his journey shorter in trying to reach China. _______________________________
Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand sponsored his voyage. He was trying to reach the Indies by sailing west and when he reached
what is known as Hispaniola, he thought he had reached his destination, which is why he referred to these people as “Indians”.
A German mapmaker named the New World after this Italian explorer. ___________________________
This explorer set out to find the Spice Islands, spent 38 days navigating the strait between South America and Antarctica, and
never actually made it back to Europe himself, but 18 of his men circumnavigated the world. ____________________
He was the first explorer to travel all the way down the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico, despite the Spanish settlement
there. He then tried to travel the opposite way up the Mississippi but missed his target and ended up in Texas where his crew
mutinied against him, killing him. _________________________________
Spanish conquistador who led and expedition deep into the territory of present day United States and became the first
documented European to cross the Mississippi River. ________________________________
The first French explorer was an Italian who went to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between South and North
Carolina, all the way up the east coast to Newfoundland. _______________________________
A French explorer who was sent to find gold in the New World (France was following the lead of the Spanish). He traveled down
the St. Lawrence Seaway and returned to France with pyrite (“fools gold”). _____________________________
Conquered the Incan people of Peru. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama with Balboa and later killed him and put his head on a
spike. ____________________________________
Spanish conquistador who traveled through parts of Mexico and what is now southwestern United States to conquer the
mythical Seven Cities of Gold. _________________________________
Part II: Short Answer – answer the following questions in COMPLETE SENTENCES to the best of your ability - each should be at
least 3 sentences! (5 points each)
17. What was the Northwest Passage? What was the significance of finding it? Include in your answer, a description of at least one
explorer’s voyage looking for the passage and what they found.
18. Describe the conflict between Protestants and Catholics in Europe. Be sure to include in your answer the creation of
Protestantism AND a description of the Spanish Inquisition. Include at least one specific example of the conflict in your answer.
19. Who was Las Casas and what did he stand up for. Include in your answer how he stood up for his beliefs. Lastly, include a
specific example of how people stand up against various forced beliefs.
20. How did the African slave trade with Europe begin? How and why did the slave trade reach the Americas? Lastly, describe how
the African slave trade differed from how we know slavery in America.
21. Describe at least one way in which you prepared for this test that was different from other tests. How did it help you remember
information and why – in other words, does it fit with how you best learn and remember information?