1. A Northwest Passage
Chapter 4: Lesson 1

2. Vocabulary claim armada invasion charter tolerance
Turn to page 120 in your textbook and identify definitions to these terms. Use context clues to figure out the meaning of each.

3. Searching for a Passage to Asia
Columbus first landed in the Americas while looking for a route to Asia. Over the next 125 years, European explorers searched for a faster route than sailing around South America.
Why did Europeans want a quicker way?

4. John Cabot
John Cabot was an Italian explorer who thought he could reach Asia by sailing across the Atlantic Ocean. The king paid for his voyage. In 1497, Cabot left England and reached Canada after one month at sea. He thought he had reached Asia. Cabot did not find people, silks, or spices. He did find a rich fishing area off the coast of Canada.

5. Northwest Passage
Once people knew the land Cabot found was not Asia, explorers continued their search for a water passage through the North American continent. The sea route that explorers looked for became known as the Northwest Passage.

6. France Explores North America
In 1524, France sent an Italian sea captain, Giovanni da Verrazno (VEHR uh ZAH noh), to look for a Northwest Passage. He explored much of the east coast of North America, including what is now New York City.

7. Ten years later, Jaques Cartier continued France’s search for a water route to Asia. He sailed far up the St Lawrence River in Canada.

8. In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post on the St
In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded a fur-trading post on the St. Lawrence River. He called it Quebec, from the Indian word kebec, which means “the place where the river narrows.” Quebec was the first permanent French settlement in North America.

9. Talk about it…
What did John Cabot find during his exploration of Canada?
What land did Cabot think he reached in 1497? What land did he really reach?
Where was the settlement of Quebec founded?

10. Assignment Write the definitions to the Vocabulary words in Chapter 4.
List four European explorers and explain who each explorer is and his significance.