GENERAL CURRICULUM TEST OBJECTIVE : 0006 Understand major developments in the history of the United States from precolonial times to the present.
General Information:
Primarily five European countries explored North America: France, Spain, England, Portugal, and The Netherlands. Their reasons for exploration were slightly different. France was seeking to establish lucrative trade routes and in many cases were more friendly to the natives. The Spanish were interested in precious metals such as gold and primarily explored Central and South America, also what is now Florida from the Gulf of Mexico to the tip of South America. The Dutch (from the Netherlands) seeking trade routes after breaking with Spain for religious reasons. Portugal was a leading country in navigation and exploration, bringing back natural (e.g., gold, ivory) and human resources (e.g., slaves).
The earliest arrival of a European in North America is believed to be Leif Erikson from Norway who landed about 1000 AD (CE - Common Era) in Newfoundland. He sailed off course while trying to return to Norway from Greenland. A settlement was found in Newfoundland in 1963 that is believed to have been that of the Erikson group.
Christopher Columbus sailing for Spain, starting in 1492, made the first of several voyages to test the theory that Asia could be reached by sailing west. He landed at islands in what is now the Bahamas and believed he was in Asia (the area is now known as the West Indies). Many Europeans believed that gold, spices, and other priceless resources could be found in North America. While Columbus did not "discover" America, his voyages made significant contributions to the beginning settlement by Europeans in this region. His initial voyages were the start of a exploration competition between European countries.
Portugal:
Vasco de Gama - First to reach India from Europe by sea
Pedro Cabral - Sailed around Africa to India; also sailed to Brazil
Hernan Cortes - explored the area where the Aztec people lived in Mexico
Amerigo Vespucci - sailed to South America and the West Indies (America is named for him).
Spain:
Christopher Columbus - West Indies, parts of South America
Ferdinand Magellan - First to sail around the world; a strait is named for him at the tip of South America and he named the Pacific ocean (Peaceful Ocean)
Vasco Nunez de Balboa - explored along the Pacific Ocean
Juan Ponce de Leon - explored parts of what is now Florida (named Florida - land of flowers)
Francisco Pizarro - explored the area of what is now Peru and encountered the Inca people
Hernando de Soto - the area of the Mississippi River and the American Southeast
Francisco Vasquez de Coronado - American southwest
France:
Jacques Cartier - the St. Lawrence River and parts of Canada, Quebec
René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle - explored the Mississippi delta and the area now known as Louisiana
Samuel de Champlain - explored the Great Lakes region and the Canadian area of Quebec
England:
John Cabot - explored Greenland, cooast of North America, Newfoundland, and Labrador
Sir Francis Drake - sailed around the world (the west coast, around San Francisco)
Sir Walter Raleigh - given permission by the queen (Elizabeth I) to colonize North America - he named the area "Virginia" to commemorate her (as she was nicknamed "the virgin queen")
The Netherlands:
Henry Hudson - explored the Hudson River and Hudson Bay (what is now New York state)
Resources:
http://mrnussbaum.com/explorersflash/
http://www.eduplace.com/kids/socsci/books/applications/imaps/maps/g5s_u2/
http://schoolhistory.co.uk/games/walk/walk_explorers.html
http://www.quia.com/jg/65717.html
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