Objective: To examine the causes and effects of the
search for the Northwest Passage.
• Europeans explorers
spent over 100 years
searching for a
Northwest
Passage through
North America to Asia.
• England, France,
and Holland began
searching for a
westward route to
Asia in order to
compete with Spain and
Portugal.
Explorations for Spain
Atlantic Ocean
Cool! I, Vasco
Nunez de Balboa,
the great conquistador,
am the first European
Vasco
Nuñez
to see
the eastern edge
deofBalboa
the Pacific
(1475
- 1519)
Ocean!
Explorations for Spain
• Ferdinand Magellan led the
first voyage around the world.
Animation: Magellan’s Voyage
Explorations for Spain
• Amerigo Vespucci was one of the first explorers to
come up with the idea that these places he had visited were not
part of Asia (as Columbus thought) but rather were part of a
“New World."
• In 1507, a pamphlet was published called "The Four Voyages
of Amerigo" and the author suggested that the new land that
Amerigo had explored be named in his honor.
• At first, the name of America was only meant to apply to
South America, but later on, both continents of America
became known by his name.
Martin Waldseemuller map of 1507. In this document the
newly discovered continent is for the first time referred
to as "America", a name the author chose in honor of
Amerigo Vespucci.
Explorations for the
Netherlands (Holland)
• British sailor Henry
Hudson explored the waters
of northeast North America,
including the water
surrounding New York City.
Explorations for
England
• In 1610, Henry Hudson
explored northern Canada for
England.
• In 1611, Hudson’s crew mutinied and returned to
Holland, leaving Hudson, his son, and several loyal sailors to
perish in the Hudson Bay.
Explorations for
England
The Italian sailor Giovanni Cabato, later known as John
Cabot, explored the north Atlantic coast of North America
for England.
The voyages of Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Amerigo
Vespucci dramatically changed the world map. This map, printed in
1507, is one of the earliest maps to incorporate this new world view.
Explorations for
France
• Giovanni da Verrazano explored the east coast of
North America, including New York harbor, for France
in 1524.
Explorations for
France
• Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River
Valley for France.
Jacques Cartier
A painting by J.-A. Théodore Gudin depicts Jacques Cartier
discovering the Saint Lawrence River in the 16th century.
Jacques Cartier
points to the arms of
France on the cross
during a ceremony
taking possession of
Canada for France,
1534.