Chapter 2, Section 4 – The Race for Empires
Events in Europe
The Protestant Reformation
1517 – Martin Luther publicly criticized the Roman Catholic Church
The Church was too wealthy and abused its power
Started a religious movement that changed Europe (and the World) forever
Protestants – reformers who protested some of the Catholic Church’s practices.
The Printing Press
A machine that produced printed copies of manuscripts and books using moveable
type
One of the most printed books was the Bible
Permitted more people to read and think about the Bible for themselves instead of
being told what to do and think
King Henry VIII
King of England
Founded the Church of England (Anglican Church) because he did not like what the
Catholic Church would and would not let him do.
Challenged the authority of the Pope
Spain and England Go To War
King Philip II of Spain wanted to drive the Protestants out of England.
Queen Elizabeth I of England used her “Sea Dogs” to conduct raids on Spanish treasure
ships
King Philip sent the Spanish Armada to stop the English attacks and to invade England.
Another purpose of the Spanish Armada was to remove Queen Elizabeth from the
throne.
The Armada consisted of 130 ships and approximately 27,000 sailors and soldiers.
The defeat of the Spanish Armada had a tremendous impact on Spain.
Spain’s economy was severely impacted.
England, France, and the Netherlands was able to challenge Spain as a super
power.
Search for a Northwest Passage – Other Nations Explore North America
Northwest Passage -- a water route through North America (Atlantic Ocean to Pacific
Ocean)
John Cabot
Italian explorer who sailed for the English – 1497/1498
Failed to find Northwest Passage
Voyages established England’s claims to land in North America
Giovanni da Verrazano
Italian explorer – 1524)
Explored along the East Coast from present-day North Carolina to Maine
Jacques Cartier
Led France’s exploration of North America
Made two trips to Canada
Henry Hudson
Englishman who sailed for the Dutch
Explored in present-day New York
Discovered river – later named after him (Hudson River)
Explored large bay in Canada (also named after him – Hudson’s Bay)
His crew set him, his son, and some other men adrift after Hudson refused to
return to England
European Presence in North America
Spain and Portugal were the first explorers of the New World but they focused on Central
America, the Caribbean, and South America.
English Presence in North America
The English decided to establish a permanent settlement in the New World
Sir Walter Raleigh received a chart to start the colony
In 1584 the English landed in the North Carolina/Virginia area and named it
Virginia in honor of Queen Elizabeth, The Virgin Queen.
The colony was built on a barrier island – Roanoke Island
The colonists had to fight off hostile Native Americans
They also had trouble finding and growing food
The colony was abandoned after one year
John White re-established the colony in the spring of 1587
White’s daughter gave birth to the first English child born in the New World –
Virginia Dare
White returned to England for supplies
While in England, White’s ships were taken from him and used in the fight
against the Spanish Amada
When White was able to return the colony some three years later he found
that the colony was deserted and no trace of anyone – to this day what
happened to the colonists remains a mystery.
France’s Presence in North America
The English first attempt to establish a settlement in the New World was in Florida (1564)
by the Huguenots, but it was attacked and destroyed by the Spanish.
Jacques Cartier and Samuel de Champlain
Early explorations gave France a claim to eastern Canada.
In 1608, Champlain founded a small colony on the Saint Lawrence River – a trading
post which was named Quebec.
Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette
In 1673, French explorer Louis Jolliet and missionary Jacques Marquette set out to
find the Mississippi River. They eventually found the river and travelled down to
present-day Arkansas.
Rene-Robert de La Salle
Travelled down the Mississippi River nine years later (1682) to the Gulf of Mexico.
Claimed the Mississippi Valley for King Louis XIV.
To honor the king, La Salle named the territory Louisiana.
Dutch Presence in North America
The Dutch claimed the land between Delaware and the Hudson River – named it New
Netherlands.
In 1624 the Dutch West India Company sent thirty (30) families to establish a
settlement in New Netherlands.
Peter Minuit bought Manhattan Island from the local Native Americans for about
$24.00 of blankets and other supplies. Founded the city of New Amsterdam – later
to become New York City.
Minuit helped Swedish settlers found the colony of New Sweden along the
Delaware River.
Conflict arose between the Dutch and the settlers in New Sweden in 1655. The
governor of New Netherlands – Peter Stuyvesant – conquered New Sweden.