1. An Age of Exploration & Expansion
America’s Beginnings

2. First Encounters
Christopher Columbus reaches N. America in 1492, funded by Spain
Within 75 years, 90% of the Native American population dies of disease
Spain grows rich by establishing colonies

3. Advantages/disadvantages?

4. New Products & New Ideas
Columbian Exchange: the exchange of goods and ideas between the Old World and the New World
New foods: corn, tomato, potato (to Europe)
New medicines: herbs, barks (to Europe)
New habits: smoking (to Europe)
New religions: Christianity (to America)
New methods: horses, cattle (to America)

5. Capitalism and Colonies
Growth of slavery: large plantations emerge; require cheap, plentiful labor
Spanish tried to enslave N. Americans
Most escaped, died
Africans are enslaved for colonies in Caribbean and N. America
Capitalism allowed European investors to pool their money for large projects
Europeans sell raw materials for gold

6. Mercantilism 1. European bank lends money to investors
2. Investors pool their money to form a company, fund a voyage to America
Plymouth (1620)
New Netherlands (1626)
3. Members of voyage reach America (hopefully) and plant crops/fish/collect furs or timber
Jamestown (1606)
4. American colonists provide raw materials to investors – investors sell & earn a profit (hopefully)

7. Early Attempts Jamestown Colony Plymouth Colony
1606: charter for “Virginia Company” granted by King James of England
Tobacco plantations
Representative government established in 1619 (House of Burgesses)
Plymouth Colony
1620 Pilgrims sail on Mayflower from England seeking religious freedom (in Virginia)
Land in Massachusetts (oops!) and struggle to survive