CHAPTER 2 • SECTION 2
RO
Spain Responds to Competition French and English claims to North
Unit 1 Resource Book
• Economics in History, p. 94
America angered Spain, which had claimed the land under the Treaty of
Tordesillas. Other tensions between Spain, England, and France came from
religious conflicts in Europe. These conflicts led to fighting in the Americas.
The Spaniards hoped to collect treasures from North America as they had
from Mexico and Peru. Spanish explorers began to survey the North American mainland. They heard Native American stories about cities of gold.
In 1528, conquistador Cabeza de Vaca was shipwrecked off the west coast
of Florida. He was the first European to explore the continent from Florida
to Arizona. Between 1539 and 1540, many other Spaniards set out to find
gold. Vázquez de Coronado and Hernando de Soto, for example, followed
Cabeza de Vaca’s route to explore the southwest. In addition, Rodríguez
Cabrillo sailed up the California coast. All failed to find cities of gold.
Florida became one of the battlegrounds between the Spanish and the
French. In 1564, a group of French Protestants founded a colony called Fort
Caroline. Before long, Spanish troops arrived in the area. The Spaniards built
a fort, St. Augustine, nearby. Then they massacred the French settlers.
More About . . .
Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca
In 1542 Cabeza de Vaca published an
account of his experiences in North America
called Adventures in the Unknown Interior
of America.
Out of over 300 who had come to colonize
Florida, only he and a few others survived.
Abandoned by the ships that had carried
them to Florida, the men made five rafts,
hoping to sail to Mexico. Three rafts
were lost, including the one carrying the
captain of the expedition. Only two rafts
reached the Texas Gulf coast. Just four men
survived.
36 • Chapter 2
09
16
AT LANTIC
OCEAN
When John Cabot returned to England after
his 1497 voyage, he claimed he had landed
near a place where the sea was filled with
codfish, which was a valuable commodity
at the time. Cod was a nutritious and tasty
source of protein. It could be salted and
dried, making it easy to preserve. Basque
fishermen were growing prosperous selling
salted cod in Europe, but no one knew
where they found it—and the Basques kept
their secret. It is not clear exactly when
Basque fishing boats first came to the
waters off Newfoundland.
The next spring, the dwindling group
headed west in search of a Spanish
settlement. Cabeza de Vaca and his group
were probably the first non-native people to
see parts of the southwest and probably the
first to see an American buffalo.
1610
EU
H
RT IC
N OM E R
A
A
John Cabot
showed that some European countries hoped to find a westward route to Asia as late as the 1600s. While Spain was
taking control of the Americas, other Europeans were sending
out expeditions to find a hoped-for Northwest Passage, or a
water route through North America to Asia.
One of the first explorers to chart a northern route across
Cabot.
the Atlantic in search of Asia was the Italian sailor John Cabot
In 1497, Cabot crossed the Atlantic Ocean to explore for the
English. He landed in the area of Newfoundland, Canada. He
was certain that he had reached Asia and claimed the land
for England. The next year he set sail once more, hoping to
reach Japan. He was never seen again. Even so, his voyages were the basis for
future English colonies along North America’s Atlantic shore.
Verrazzano set out under the French
In 1524, another Italian, Giovanni da Verrazzano,
flag to find an all-water route to Asia. He explored the Atlantic coastline of
North America, but there was no such passage to be found.
France tried again between 1534 and 1536 with the voyages of explorer
Jacques Cartier (ZHAHK•kahr•TYAY). Cartier traveled up the St. Lawrence
River to the site of present-day Montreal, but rapids blocked the way and
ended his search. Cartier returned to North America in 1541. But French
settlements were not seriously attempted again until 1603.
PE
Hudson
Bay
More About . . .
Seeking a Quick Route to Wealth Hudson’s voyages
Hudson’s Explorations
Spain and England Clash Religious differences and English piracies against
Spanish trade also led to conflict. In 1558, Queen Elizabeth I, a Protestant,
came to the English throne. Elizabeth fought to defend England and to
challenge Catholic Spain’s power at sea. Daring English sailors, known as
sea dogs, used small ships to attack the bulky Spanish sailing ships—called
galleons—that brought gold and silver from the Americas.
36 Chapter 2
DIFFERENTIATING INSTRUCTION
English Learners
Gifted & Talented
Comprehension: Self-Monitor
Explorer Poster
Have students create a table to take
notes on the various explorers discussed
in this section. The table should have
five columns, titled Explorer, Sponsoring
Country, Date of Voyage, Land Explored,
and Result. Model drawing the table and
completing information for one explorer.
Have students create a poster on one
of the explorers discussed on this
page. Posters should include a brief
biography, portrait (if available) or other
visual, a map of the route followed by
the explorer, and a statement on the
achievements or “firsts” accomplished
by the explorer and how they affected
later explorations. Have students present
their posters and display them in the
classroom.
CHAPTER 2 • SECTION 2
History through Art
History
through
Art
This colorful portrait is believed
to be the work of artist George
Gower. Completed around 1588, the
painting is of Queen Elizabeth I of
England and is commonly known as
the “Armada Portrait.”
The portrait pays tribute to the
power and wealth of the popular
queen. She is shown basking in the
glory of England’s naval victory over
Spain. The English navy is framed
on the left and the Spanish Armada,
battling high seas in the English
Channel, is on the right.
In 1577, Sir Francis Drake, a famous sea dog, began a threeyear voyage around the world. Drake and his men were the first
Englishmen to sail around the world. They raided Spanish ports
in South America. In the summer of 1588, the Spanish king sent
a large fleet of 130 sailing ships—called the Spanish Armada— to
CRITICAL VIEWING Why do you
think the queen’s right hand rests upon
a globe?
conquer England and restore Catholicism.
England Defeats Spain The English and Spanish navies met in the English
Channel, which separates England from the European continent. In their
smaller but faster craft, the English darted among the Spanish warships,
firing deadly rounds with their cannons. The Spanish were forced to retreat.
But Spain remained strong. It quickly rebuilt its navy and kept its large colonial empire. But Spain would never again be as powerful as it was in 1588.
The English victory over Spain had two important effects. First, England
remained Protestant and proved it could defend itself. Second, the world
saw that Spain could be beaten.
English settlers were already coming to America. In addition, by 1600,
England and France were chief rivals among many claims for Newfoundland. Even so, England took a cautious approach to overseas expansion. The
government did not provide money to start colonies, leaving funding for
colonies to private citizens. As a result, England did not establish a successful colony in America until after 1600.
SUMMARIZE Explain what drew European explorers to North America.
Analysis of Elizabeth’s Speech
at Tilbury
Have groups of students analyze the speech
given by Queen Elizabeth I to rally her troops to
fight the Spanish Armada (available online). To
understand what makes the speech so effective,
students should locate examples of:
• repetition or rhythmic phrases
• dramatic or stirring language
• references to God and country
CONNECT
CRITICAL VIEWING ANSWER
to symbolize England’s power in the world
More About . . .
Queen Elizabeth I
Queen Elizabeth I was the second daughter
of Henry VIII. Protestant Elizabeth inherited
the throne from her Catholic half-sister
Mary, who had been married to Philip II of
Spain. Philip had hoped to marry Elizabeth,
but it became clear that she intended to
keep England Protestant and independent
of Spain. Elizabeth further angered Philip
by supporting Dutch Protestants rebelling
against Spanish rule.
David Mack, Sarah Banks Middle School,
Wixom, Michigan
Answer: gain wealth;
search for Northwest
Passage; find rich Native
American civilizations
INTERDISCIPLINARY ACTIVITIES
to Language Arts
• What objects indicate the wealth of the
queen? (jewels, her beautiful dress, lavish
furniture, crown on the left)
Teacher-Tested Activities
European Exploration of the Americas 37
CONNECT
Tell students that this portrait of Queen
Elizabeth I is attributed to George Gower,
an artist appointed as Serjeant (official)
Painter to the queen in 1581.
to Art
Spanish Armada Gallery
Have groups of students use library and online
sources to create an exhibit on art relating to
the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Works of
art might include battle scenes, portraits, or
drawings. For each work of art, have students
prepare a fact sheet on the scene or person
depicted. Students should also include a time
line of events to provide context for their
exhibit.
I have my students play the role of Christopher
Columbus and write three journal entries
focusing on what they experienced during
their journey. These entries should be
designed to impress the King and Queen.
• Focus of the first journal entry: You have
landed in the Bahamas. Describe your
experiences. Was the island inhabited?
Describe the people and how they treated
you. What valuable natural resources were
there?
• Focus of the second entry: You have landed
in Cuba. Describe your experiences. Was
the island inhabited? Describe the people
and how they treated you. What valuable
resources were there?
• Focus of the third entry: You have landed in
Hispaniola. Describe your experiences. Was
the island inhabited? Describe the people
and how they treated you. What resources
were there?
Have students present their analyses to the class
and identify their favorite parts of the speech.
Teacher’s Edition • 37