European Explorers

Many things motivated European Exploration Religion – Spanish spread Catholicism in the South – French spread Catholicism in the Northeast – Dutch and English spread Protestant Christianity along the east coast Economic Rivalry – Europeans wanted to acquire colonies in the Americas so they could get the resources like gold or other resources and so they could sell their own goods. Finding a Northwest Passage – Europeans still wanted to find an easier way to get to Asia and they hoped to find a water route through North America

Spain Amerigo Vespucci - Italian born, he sailed for Spain began mapping the South American coastline and was the first to describe it as its own continent. In a later voyage he sailed for Portugal Ferdinand Magellan sailed for Spain, but was from Portugal. He found the Pacific Ocean and was the first to circumnavigate (travel all the way around) the world.

Spanish Conquistadors They received land grants from Spanish rulers in exchange for one-fifth of their gold or treasure taken from the Americas. They conquered Native American Empires like the Aztecs and Incas in South America - they had better weapons like guns and cannons and had horses - they convinced other Native Americans to stand up and help them - European diseases killed many - Conquistadors explored the Southeastern part of the US Famous Spanish Conquistadors Ponce de Leon – explored FL and hoped to find a fountain of youth Hernando de Soto – explored southeastern US and crossed the Mississippi Vasquez de Coronado traveled through Mexico, Arizona, and New Mexico

England John Cabot landed in Newfoundland in 1497 which helped England establish land claims in North America

France France hired Italian born Giovani da Verrazano to look for a northern sea route. He explored the East Coast all the way from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas Jacques Cartier sailed up the St. Lawrence River and established Montreal, Canada

Netherlands The Dutch hired Henry Hudson who discovered the Hudson River in When he got to the Hudson Bay, he thought he had reached the Pacific