Exploring North America

Chapter 3, Lesson 4

Martin Luther► Martin Luther – German Priest who in 1517,

nailed a list of complaints on the door of a church.

► He believed that the Bible was the only true guide for Christians. Rejected the Pope’s authority and church

practices since they were not mentioned in the Bible.

He also believed that faith rather than good deeds was the way to salvation.

► The Church attempted to get him to take back his statements but he refused.

A Divided Church► Martin Luther’s actions would cause drastic

changes in Europe. Before he spoke up in the 1500s, Europe

was united under the Catholic Church for centuries as the main religion, despite their differences.

► Within a few years, Luther would have many followers. Broke away from Catholicism to make

their own Christian churches.► Protestant Reformation – Religious and

historical movement started by Martin Luther’s protest.

Protestantism Spreads in Europe► Luther’s ideas spread quickly from Germany.

► John Calvin – French religious thinker who also broke away from the Catholic Church. Similarly rejected the concept that good

works would ensure a person’s salvation. Believed that God had already chosen

those who would be saved.► King Henry VIII – also leaves the Catholic

Church, but not for religious reasons. Pope Clement VII refused his request to

declare his first marriage invalid.

Protestantism Spreads in Europe► In 1534, Parliament working with the king

denied the pope’s authority and set the king as the head of the Church of England.

► Queen Elizabeth I (his daughter), continues to reform England and makes it a protestant nation.

Martin Luther King Henry VIIIJohn Calvin

Queen Elizabeth I

King Henry the Eighth,to six wives he was wedded.One died, one survived,two divorced, two beheaded.

King Henry the Eighth,to six wives he was

wedded.One died, one survived,

two divorced, two beheaded.

Religious Rivalries in the Americas

► Throughout western Europe, people and nations divided into Catholics and Protestants.

► Spanish and French Catholics worked to spread their faith to the Native Americans. Spanish were in the Southeast and

Southwest. French were in the Northeast. Dutch and English will eventually set up

between Spanish and French.► Some of the English settlements were

founded by protestants to practice their beliefs in peace.

Economic Rivalry► Religion was not the only reason European

Nations cross the Atlantic. Spain became rich through the colonies

and others wanted the same.► Mercantilism – Theory that a nation’s

power was tied to its wealth.► Ruler’s tried to get gold and silver by

developing trade.► Opportunity for individual merchants to

make money and increased the rivalry between nations.

► European nations sought territories oversea to increase their wealth through gold, silver, natural resources, and setting up trade.

The Columbian Exchange► Columbus’ voyage brought two worlds

together. Europe, Asia, and Africa in one

hemisphere and the Americas in the other. Lead to an exchange of plants, animals

and diseases that altered life on both sides of the Atlantic.

► This was known as the Columbian Exchange.

A Northwest Passage► The Treaty of Tordesillas had divided the

Americas between Spain and Portugal. England, France, and the Netherlands

were not allowed to claim territories… They didn’t care.

► During the 1500s and early 1600s, these countries sent explorers to chart the coast of North America.

► The voyage to Asia (whether around Africa or South America) was long and difficult. Countries hoped to find a more direct

route to Asia through the Americas known as the Northwest Passage.

A Northwest Passage► John Cabot – an Italian sent by England to

find a route through the north to Asia. Possibly landed in present-day

Newfoundland. Cabot’s voyage was used as the basis for

hopefully finding this route.► Giovanni da Verrazano – Italian hired by

the French in 1524 to explore the coast of North America. Sail from present-day Nova Scotia to the

Carolinas.

A Northwest Passage► Jacques Cartier – sailed up St. Lawrence

River hoping it would lead to the Pacific. Made it as far as Huron village of

Hochelaga. Wrote from the mountain next to the

village, “one sees a very great distance.” Named the Mountain, Mont-Royal which

means “royal mountain,” and is now called Montreal.

He neither found gold nor a sea route to Asia.

John Cabot

Giovanni da

Verrazano

Jacques Cartier

Hudson’s Discovery► Henry Hudson – An English explorer hired

by the Netherlands to find a passage through the Americas. In 1609, he found a river that now has his

name. He sailed north on the Hudson as far as

present-day Albany. He would try again the following year, this

time for England. Sailing from northern England, he

eventually found a huge bay, also now bearing his name.

Thought this bay might be the Pacific Ocean.

Hudson’s Discovery►After months of searching, the crew

rebelled. Hudson, his son John, and a few sailors

were set adrift in a small boat never to be heard from again.

Henry Hudson

French Open Trading► France had little interest for building an

empire in the Americas. They were more preoccupied with political

and religious troubles back home.► They were more interested in fishing and fur

trading. Furs were very popular in Europe and

money was to be made on beaver pelts. Made an agreement with the Native

Americans to trade furs.

French Open Trading► Samuel de Champlain – sent to establish a

settlement in Quebec in what is now Canada.

► Made several trips and discovered Lake Champlain.

► The French would continue to move into Canada and establish trading posts to collect furs gathered by Native Americans and French fur trappers. Known as coureurs de bois (runners of the

woods).

Dutch Settlement► Hudson’s voyage would be the start of the

Dutch claiming land in the new world. Although a small country, it had a large

fleet of trading ships going around the world.

► The Dutch West India Company sets up a trading colony named, New Netherland located in the area where Hudson explored. Sent 30 families to settle at Fort Orange

(later known as Albany) and on Burlington Island in New Jersey.

Shortly after Fort Nassau is established opposite of Philadelphia.

Dutch Settlement► The center of the new colony was New

Amsterdam. Located on the tip of Manhattan Island.

► Peter Minuit – Governor of the Colony Paid the Manhates 60 Dutch Guilders in

goods for the island. Suspected goods were clothes, valuable

tools such as axes, hoes and awls.► Now like the other major European Nations

at the time, the Dutch also had a claim in the new world

Peter Minuit

Purchasing Manhattan Island in 1626