European Explorers in North America

​European Nations that Explored North America

By RICHARD HAINES

Match

Match the flag with the country

Spain

France

England

Dutch

Sweden

• Spain

• France

• England

• Dutch

• Sweden

Why take the risk to Explore?

1. Looking for a safer trade route to Asia to buy spices

2. Look for gold to enrich their country

3. To add land(colonize) to make their country bigger and stronger

4. Natural resources like timber, iron, copper, fish, whales, and other products

5. Spread the Christian religion to other people

6. Give your life meaning and have some excitement

Multiple Choice

Which one of these is NOT a reason why Europeans explored North America?

• To grow the Christian religion

• To find natural resources like gold and timber

• To connect North America with Europe by building a road to connect them

• To find a safer route to Asia to trade for spices

​Spain

​Late 15th Century - Early 16th Century: Spain was one of the first European powers to explore and colonize the Americas. After Christopher Columbus's voyages starting in 1492, Spain quickly began establishing colonies in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America.

• 1513: Juan Ponce de León explored Florida, which he named "La Florida" (land of flowers), marking one of Spain's early forays into North America.

• 1528-1536: Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca explored the Gulf Coast (Texas) and parts of the Southwest, further expanding Spain's presence in North America.

• 16th Century: Spain established settlements and missions in the Southwest (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas) and California.

Match

Match the Spanish explorer with the area they explored

• Bahamas

• Gulf Coast (Texas)

• Florida

Christopher Columbus

Cabeza de Vaca

Ponce de Leon

• Christopher Columbus

• Cabeza de Vaca

• Ponce de Leon

France

• Early 16th Century: Jacques Cartier began exploring the St. Lawrence River and parts of modern-day Canada in 1534, claiming the area for France.

• 1608: Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec, establishing the first permanent French colony in North America.

• 1620s-1630s: France expanded its presence in North America, particularly in the Great Lakes region, and along the Mississippi River. French settlers and missionaries spread through parts of what is now Canada and the U.S., establishing New France.

Multiple Choice

French explorers made their way to the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes.

• True

• False

England

• Late 15th Century - Early 16th Century: English exploration of North America started with efforts to find a westward route to Asia. John Cabot, an Italian explorer sailing under the English flag, is often credited with the first English exploration of North America in 1497, reaching the coast of Newfoundland.

• 1584: Sir Walter Raleigh established the Roanoke Colony on the coast of modern-day North Carolina. The colony mysteriously vanished, leading to the "Lost Colony."

• 1607: Jamestown, the first permanent English colony, was founded in Virginia, marking the beginning of sustained English settlement in North America.

• 1620: The Pilgrims settled at Plymouth, Massachusetts, creating one of the earliest successful English colonies in New England.

Match

Match the English explorer/group with the area they explored

• Newfoundland

• Roanoke (North Carolina)

• Jamestown

• Plymouth

John Cabot

Sir Walter Raleigh

John Smith

Pilgrims

• John Cabot

• Sir Walter Raleigh

• John Smith

• Pilgrims

The Dutch

• Early 17th Century: The Dutch were active in North American exploration primarily through the Dutch West India Company.

• 1609: Henry Hudson, sailing for the Dutch, explored the Hudson River and the surrounding area, laying the groundwork for Dutch settlements in the region.

• 1624: The Dutch established the colony of New Netherland along the Hudson River, which included parts of modern-day New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

• The Dutch controlled this area until 1664, when the English seized New Netherland and renamed it New York.

Multiple Choice

What country conquered the Dutch colony in the Americas?

• France

• Spain

• Sweden

• England

​Sweden

• Early 17th Century: Sweden established a small colony in North America known as New Sweden.

• 1638: The Swedish began settling along the Delaware River, in parts of modern-day Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

• 1655: The Dutch took control of New Sweden, ending Swedish colonial efforts in North America.

Multiple Select

What three present day states did Sweden explore and live in?

• New Jersey

• Pennsylvania

• Virginia

• Delaware