Naming of America and the Thirteen Colonies

Who was the explorer that identified the lands as a separate continent?

In what year did Martin Waldseemuller name the new continent 'America'?

Who were the king and queen of Spain for whom Christopher Columbus sailed?

How many original colonies were there before America became fifty states?

Match the following original colonies with their states:

Who was the explorer that identified the lands as a separate continent?

What year did Martin Waldseemuller depict the continent on a world map and name it 'America'?

Christopher Columbus was the first explorer to identify the Americas as a separate continent.

Christopher Columbus explored what is now known as the ______.

The first _____ colonies in America were Virginia, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Who were the king and queen that Columbus sailed for?

What major change occurred in the European world view due to the discoveries in the Americas?

The Naming of America

In the late 1400s, Christopher Columbus explored the Caribbean, Central America, and parts of South America, altering European perceptions of the world.
Amerigo Vespucci, another explorer, identified this land as a separate continent, not just islands or parts of Asia.
In 1507, German cartographer Martin Waldseemuller created a world map, labeling this new continent "America" after Vespucci.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, Europeans continued exploring, mapping, and colonizing "America."
While early European maps depicted North America differently, its outline became more defined over time.

The Original Thirteen Colonies

The thirteen original colonies that formed the United States were:
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- New York and New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina and South Carolina
- Georgia
- Delaware

Naming America

Christopher Columbus, sailed for King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain in the 1490s.
He explored the West Indies, central American Coast and the Northern Coast of South America.
His explorations changed the European worldview.
Amerigo Vespucci explored the same areas and identified the land as a separate continent, not islands or peninsulas.
Martin Waldseemuller created a world map in 1507 using Vespucci's travel accounts and named the new continent "America" in honor of Vespucci.
Europeans explored, mapped and colonized the new continent they called "America" throughout the 16th and 17th centuries.
Contradictory images of North America appeared on world maps until the continent's outline began to take shape.

Original Colonies of America

Before becoming fifty states, the original colonies were:
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Rhode Island
- New York and New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
- North Carolina and South Carolina
- Georgia
- Delaware

Explore the explorations of Christopher Columbus and Amerigo Vespucci, and learn how the name 'America' came to be. This quiz also covers the original thirteen colonies that laid the foundation of the United States. Test your knowledge on the early maps and colonization efforts in the New World.