“The Discovery and Conquest of Early America from 1492-1776”
The New World and the Struggle to Build a Nation
A quick overview of early explorers and European settlers in the New World, with analysis of their methods, principles, religions, and treatment of indigenous populations, leading to the destruction of Ancient Empires and establishment of new colonies.
Starting in the late 1400’s, Spain began looking towards the West, across the Atlantic Ocean, to expand their growing empire. Recent advances in shipbuilding, mapmaking, topography, and navigation through the use of the Quadrant, enabled mariners to further explore the globe like never before. Europe was quickly running out of room for the growing population, and this was posing a problem as more land was needed for crops. Natural resources such as wood were also being depleted at an alarming rate.
Spain’s Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand sponsored an avid mariner, Christopher Columbus, on a journey West to discover a trade route …show more content…
Their attempts at establishing settlements in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland failed. They would not establish a permanent colony until the seventeenth century. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain, while exploring for a French fur trading company, founded Quebec. In 1673, Jacque Marquette and Louis Joliet located the Mississippi River. In 1681 Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle descended to the Gulf of Mexico. France therefore claimed the entire Mississippi River Valley. New France encompassed the St Lawrence, Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Unlike the ruthless Spaniards, France adopted a kinder and gentler approach towards the Indians. The French did not seek to conquer the Native tribes, and had the foresight to treat them as equals. These actions established a successful fur trade and business relationship which benefited both the French and the Indian populations in the
The New World and the Struggle to Build a Nation
A quick overview of early explorers and European settlers in the New World, with analysis of their methods, principles, religions, and treatment of indigenous populations, leading to the destruction of Ancient Empires and establishment of new colonies.
Starting in the late 1400’s, Spain began looking towards the West, across the Atlantic Ocean, to expand their growing empire. Recent advances in shipbuilding, mapmaking, topography, and navigation through the use of the Quadrant, enabled mariners to further explore the globe like never before. Europe was quickly running out of room for the growing population, and this was posing a problem as more land was needed for crops. Natural resources such as wood were also being depleted at an alarming rate.
Spain’s Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand sponsored an avid mariner, Christopher Columbus, on a journey West to discover a trade route …show more content…
Their attempts at establishing settlements in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland failed. They would not establish a permanent colony until the seventeenth century. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain, while exploring for a French fur trading company, founded Quebec. In 1673, Jacque Marquette and Louis Joliet located the Mississippi River. In 1681 Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle descended to the Gulf of Mexico. France therefore claimed the entire Mississippi River Valley. New France encompassed the St Lawrence, Mississippi and Ohio rivers. Unlike the ruthless Spaniards, France adopted a kinder and gentler approach towards the Indians. The French did not seek to conquer the Native tribes, and had the foresight to treat them as equals. These actions established a successful fur trade and business relationship which benefited both the French and the Indian populations in the