I Claim this Land…

The Myth of Christopher Columbus It is widely believed and celebrated that in 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World”. It is widely believed and celebrated that in 1492 Christopher Columbus discovered the “New World”. In fact he was the last person to “discover” it In fact he was the last person to “discover” it Several groups of people landed in North America before Columbus Several groups of people landed in North America before Columbus

The Vikings Vikings were some of the first Europeans to venture to what is now Canada Vikings were some of the first Europeans to venture to what is now Canada The Vikings were an aggressive people who were originally from Scandinavia The Vikings were an aggressive people who were originally from Scandinavia They wore funny hats They wore funny hats They were also great explorers They were also great explorers

The Vikings (con’t) The Vikings set out from their homeland in search of more farmland The Vikings set out from their homeland in search of more farmland This search took them all over the North Atlantic This search took them all over the North Atlantic The Vikings set up a colony as far west as Iceland – which is very green The Vikings set up a colony as far west as Iceland – which is very green In 985 Eric the Red established a colony in Greenland – which is covered by ice In 985 Eric the Red established a colony in Greenland – which is covered by ice

The Vikings (con’t) Eric’s son Bjarni tried to retrace his father’s course and ended up catching sight of a hilly wooded land Eric’s son Bjarni tried to retrace his father’s course and ended up catching sight of a hilly wooded land He realized that this was not Greenland and turned north He realized that this was not Greenland and turned north Eric’s other son Leif was intrigued by the story and later set out for the wooded land Bjarni had seen Eric’s other son Leif was intrigued by the story and later set out for the wooded land Bjarni had seen

The Vikings (con’t) As Greenland lacked many goods, there was a lot of money to be made on lumber As Greenland lacked many goods, there was a lot of money to be made on lumber Because of this Leif Ericson is known as the first white man to set foot on North America Because of this Leif Ericson is known as the first white man to set foot on North America The route to North America became well traveled and made a lot on men rich The route to North America became well traveled and made a lot on men rich Because of this Thorfinn Karlsefni established a colony on present day Nova Scotia Because of this Thorfinn Karlsefni established a colony on present day Nova Scotia

The Vikings (con’t) This colony traded with the natives and was very prosperous for a time This colony traded with the natives and was very prosperous for a time The colony was abandoned in 1013 when a native was killed and the natives attacked the colony The colony was abandoned in 1013 when a native was killed and the natives attacked the colony

A Little Perspective The Vikings abandoned their colony: The Vikings abandoned their colony: 85 years before the start of the Crusades 85 years before the start of the Crusades 479 years before Columbus landed in the new world 479 years before Columbus landed in the new world 763 before the writing of the American Declaration of Independence 763 before the writing of the American Declaration of Independence 854 years before Canadian Confederation 854 years before Canadian Confederation

The English Also known as the “English” Also known as the “English” The next first person to set foot on present day Canada was John Cabot The next first person to set foot on present day Canada was John Cabot AKA Giovanni Cabotto AKA Giovanni Cabotto Although sailing for England Cabot was actually Italian – from the city of Venetia Although sailing for England Cabot was actually Italian – from the city of Venetia

The English (con’t) Like Columbus, John Cabot’s 1497 journey was searching for a quicker passage to Asia Like Columbus, John Cabot’s 1497 journey was searching for a quicker passage to Asia This was sparked by the expulsion of British ships from the prime fishing waters off the coast of Iceland This was sparked by the expulsion of British ships from the prime fishing waters off the coast of Iceland It took Cabot fifty-two days to reach what he thought to be the northern tip of Asia It took Cabot fifty-two days to reach what he thought to be the northern tip of Asia

The English (con’t) Cabot did not meet any people but he did see signs of inhabitance Cabot did not meet any people but he did see signs of inhabitance He also discovered the great fishing wealth of North America He also discovered the great fishing wealth of North America 1498 Cabot returned to the “lands of the Grand Khan” Cabot returned to the “lands of the Grand Khan”. This time he met Indians and traded with them for furs and fish This time he met Indians and traded with them for furs and fish

The English (con’t) He then sailed south in search of Japan but was unable to find it – try a huge continent and a giant ocean to your left! He then sailed south in search of Japan but was unable to find it – try a huge continent and a giant ocean to your left! Cabot did succeed in claiming the northern coast of North America for England Cabot did succeed in claiming the northern coast of North America for England Another Englishman to explore North America was Henry Hudson Another Englishman to explore North America was Henry Hudson He discovered Hudson’s Bay in 1610 He discovered Hudson’s Bay in 1610

The English (con’t) In 1611 he again tried to find the elusive North West Passage In 1611 he again tried to find the elusive North West Passage He followed a fellow explorers, Martin Frobishier’s, route and ended up discovering James Bay He followed a fellow explorers, Martin Frobishier’s, route and ended up discovering James Bay As winter closed in his crew set him adrift in a life boat with his son and eight crew men and returned to England As winter closed in his crew set him adrift in a life boat with his son and eight crew men and returned to England While sailing for the Dutch East India Company Hudson Claimed the land where New Amsterdam was built While sailing for the Dutch East India Company Hudson Claimed the land where New Amsterdam was built

The French King Francis I financed the voyage of Giovanni de Verrazano King Francis I financed the voyage of Giovanni de Verrazano Verrizano articulated that the landmass he met was not Asia but, in fact another continent Verrizano articulated that the landmass he met was not Asia but, in fact another continent Way to work it through! Way to work it through!

The French Jacque Cartier sailed to North America in 1534 Jacque Cartier sailed to North America in 1534 On his first voyage he met with Indians who were friendly and eager to trade On his first voyage he met with Indians who were friendly and eager to trade On his second journey Cartier tried to find a passage through the continent On his second journey Cartier tried to find a passage through the continent On this journey Cartier stayed at Stadacona as a guest of Chief Donacona On this journey Cartier stayed at Stadacona as a guest of Chief Donacona

The French After the winter Cartier had lost 25 men to scurvy After the winter Cartier had lost 25 men to scurvy He also had doubts as to whether he could sail through the continent He also had doubts as to whether he could sail through the continent Cartier kidnapped Donacona and returned to France Cartier kidnapped Donacona and returned to France His reports and Donacona’s insistence on a great inland sea renewed faith that the continent could be sailed through His reports and Donacona’s insistence on a great inland sea renewed faith that the continent could be sailed through

The French Cartier’s next voyage was one of colonization Cartier’s next voyage was one of colonization Along with Lietenant-Governor Roberval Cartier set up a colony Along with Lietenant-Governor Roberval Cartier set up a colony Roberval was separated from Cartier and was unable to set up a colony Roberval was separated from Cartier and was unable to set up a colony Cartier’s colony faced many problems such as Roberval not arriving, winter cold, and increasingly hostile natives – Donacona had not returned seeing he died in France. Cartier’s colony faced many problems such as Roberval not arriving, winter cold, and increasingly hostile natives – Donacona had not returned seeing he died in France.

The French The colony was eventually abandoned The colony was eventually abandoned Roberval later set up a colony but also abandoned it. Roberval later set up a colony but also abandoned it.

Overview The sixteenth century was one of great discovery but no permanent settlement The sixteenth century was one of great discovery but no permanent settlement

Review Questions What right does a nation have to claim land from another? What right does a nation have to claim land from another? Where does that leave us? Where does that leave us?