Exploration-of-the-Americas-for-5th-Grade (3) (1).docx

**[Exploration of the Americas ]** **[Vikings Explore the Americas ]** People have lived on the North and South American continents for thousands of years. The indigenous Americans formed many different cultures across each continent. However, these people were unknown to the rest of the world. Eu...

**[Exploration of the Americas ]** **[Vikings Explore the Americas ]** People have lived on the North and South American continents for thousands of years. The indigenous Americans formed many different cultures across each continent. However, these people were unknown to the rest of the world. Europeans, Africans, and Asians had been in contact with each other and trading for centuries. The people of the Americas were separated from the rest of the world. In fact, many people did not know that North and South America even existed! The first attempts at European exploration in the Americas started around the year 1000, when Viking explorers crossed over from Greenland and Iceland. Vikings established a settlement in current day Canada called Vinland. The settlement only lasted for a few years and was later abandoned by the Vikings. Vikings settled in Canada over 1,000 years Columbus Sails to the Americas This painting shows the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas. ago. Spanish exploration and conquest in the Americas began with Christopher Golumbus in 1492. Columbus thought he could reach India in Asia more quickly to obtain spices and luxury items by sailing west around the globe, instead of the longer, more dangerous route around Africa. Columbus was wrong about the size of the world and reached not India, but the Americas, specifically an island in the Bahamas. He called the indigenous people living there Indians since he originally believed he had found India. He was wrong, but this new route would change the world. **[\*STOP AND DISCUSS: Who were the first Europeans to explore North America? Who is Christopher Columbus? Why was he trying to find a new route to India? ]** **[The Voyages of Columbus ]** Columbus made four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, searching for gold and building settlements. Those voyages began the Spanish conquest of the Americas. Columbus sent all the resources he found back to Spain. With him came priests to convert the Indigenous people to the Catholic faith, conquistadors to fight and claim the land, and settlers to build farms. Those voyages began the Spanish conquest of the Americas. The Columbian Exchange The voyages of Christopher Columbus 1492-1493 1493-1496 1498-1500 1502-1504 Columbus made four voyages to the Americas. Each time he came, he conquered more land for Spain. North America/ Europe Africa The Columbian Exchange changed the world. Although Columbus was not the first European explorer to reach the Americas, his voyages began the Columbian Exchange. The Columbian Exchange refers to the movement of plants, animals, culture, people, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas, Europe, and Africa. The Columbian Exchange was the first-time large groups of people came to the Americas from Europe. They conquered the people living in Central and South America and sent back the wealth they claimed to Europe. **[\*STOP AND DISCUSS: What did Columbus do that helped Spain? What is a conquistador? What were the reasons the Spanish came to the Americas? What did he do that hurt the indigenous people of the Americas?]** The stories of gold and wealth would motivate other European nations to explore and conquer lands in the Americas. The French king sponsored trips to the Americas looking for wealth and land to conquer. Many of the French explored northern areas of North America (present day Canada) and along the Mississippi River valley. French explorer Jacques Cartier French exploration started in 1504 with Jacques Cartier. He claimed northern North America for France and named the region New France. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain explored and founded what is now Quebec City - the first permanent settlement in New France. In 1679, Rene-Robert Gavelier, Sieur de La Salle, explored the Great Lakes region and the entire course of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico. Gold was not found but the French found the fur trade could bring them wealth. The Spanish had forced their culture and religion when they colonized, but the French seemed to blend into the indigenous culture instead. The French became trading partners with many indigenous nations and were typically friendly with them. The French did not have many colonies but lived more with the different indigenous people and made money selling furs from beavers and trading. **[\*STOP AND DISCUSS: Who were the French explorers? Why did they explore the Americas? How did the French differ from the Spanish in the Americas? ]** **[Dutch, French, and English Explorers]** In addition to the Spanish and the French, the Dutch also sent explorers and colonized North America. Henry Hudson was an Englishman who was hired by the Dutch East India Company in 1609. Hudson was seeking a Northwest Passage to Asia and its wealth. Many explorers were searching for this water route across North America. Hudson had tried unsuccessfully to find such a route in his two previous voyages when he was sailing for England. He claimed areas of Canada and New York. The Dutch created small colonies in both regions called New Netherlands. Just as Spain conquered and claimed most of the land in Central and South America, the English would soon claim most of the land in North America. The first English expedition occurred in 1497 and was led by John Cabot. He explored parts of Newfoundland, and while he found large amounts of natural resources, he did not start a colony. In the late 1500s, several more English explorers were sent to North America. Sir Francis Drake explored the Atlantic coast of North America, claiming it for England. Sir Walter Raleigh, also explored the Atlantic coast and started the John Cabot first English colony called Roanoke. This claimed land would later grow into the United States of America. **[\*STOP AND DISCUSS: Who were the English explorers? Why did they explore the Americas? Where did the English explorers go in North America? ]** The explorations and conquests of the European explorers changed the Americas and the world. Besides gold and silver, ships brought corn and potatoes from the Americas to Spain. These crops grew well in Europe. By increasing the food supply the population of Europe increased. Conquistadors also introduced Europeans to other important items like chocolate and tobacco. For a time, wealth from the Americas made Spain one of the world\'s richest and most powerful countries. **[The Spanish conquests had a major impact ]** on the Americas. The Spanish introduced new animals, such as horses, cattle, sheep, and pigs. But they also destroyed advanced civilizations like the Aztecs. The indigenous people lost much of their culture along with their wealth. Many were enslaved and killed by the Spanish. European conquest also changed the environment of the Americas. The popularity of people in the Americas. Beaver fur led to the overhunting of beavers in the Horses changed the way of life of Northeast, and their eventual extinction in New England. With the introduction of domesticated animals like pigs and horses, native wildlife died. The Columbian Exchange impacted the people in Africa as well. Spanish conquerors enslaved the indigenous population of the Americas to work on their farms and search for more gold. When the indigenous people died, Africans were enslaved and brought over to the Americas. Millions of Africans were sold into slavery to work in the Americas. **[\*STOP AND DISCUSS: What was brought from Europe and Africa to the Americas? What impact did exploration have on the Americas? ]**