European Exploration of North America

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@YoungMarigold

Study Notes

European Exploration of North America's Coast

English, like the Spanish, sought a quicker route to Asia via a Northwest Passage through North America.
Sir Francis Drake (English) circumnavigated the globe in 1577-1580. He explored the Pacific coast, searching for the Northwest Passage. He attacked Spanish ships and settlements, acquiring Spanish valuables along the way.
Drake landed near present-day San Francisco, making repairs, before continuing west across the Pacific.
Sebastián Vizcaíno (Spanish) mapped the California coast in 1602, looking for suitable harbors. His expedition took six months to reach San Diego Bay and found Monterey Bay, which he deemed ideal for Spanish shipping.
Spanish monarchs, however, deemed California too distant for settlement.
Russia's Vitus Bering explored the Pacific coast in 1728, discovering the Bering Strait, a waterway separating Asia and North America.
Bering attempted to explore the northern coast again in 1741, mapping coastal Alaska, but died during the expedition.
James Cook (English), looking for the Northwest Passage, explored the Pacific coast from present-day Oregon to Alaska, sailing through the Bering Strait, but was forced back by ice. Cook died before reaching England.

Northwest Passage Search: Key Figures and Outcomes

Francis Drake (England): Circumnavigated the globe but didn't find the Northwest Passage.
Sebastián Vizcaíno (Spain): Mapped parts of the California coast, identifying Monterey Bay as a potentially suitable harbor. Spanish monarchs, however, lacked interest in settling California in that period
Vitus Bering (Russia): Discovered the Bering Strait, a waterway separating Asia and North America, but did not achieve the passage to Asia.
James Cook (England): Explored the Pacific coast to Alaska, sailing through the Bering Strait but was turned back by ice. Didn't find the Northwest Passage.

Key Geographic Features

Northwest Passage: A hypothetical sea route sought by Europeans to reach Asia via North America.
Bering Strait: Narrow strip of water separating Asia and North America, discovered by Vitus Bering.

Description

Explore the key figures and events that defined European exploration along North America's coast. From Sir Francis Drake's globe-circling journey to Sebastián Vizcaíno's mapping of California, discover the motivations and discoveries that shaped this era. Additionally, learn about Vitus Bering's explorations and the implications of these expeditions.