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Prologue: American Beginnings

Lesson 1

The Colonial Era

Key Terms and People
Christopher Columbus European explorer who believed he could reach Asia by
sailing west across the Atlantic Ocean but reached the Americas instead
Juan Ponce de León Explorer who claimed what is now Florida for Spain
encomienda A system in which Native Americans were forced to work for Spanish
settlers in the Americas
joint-stock companies Companies in which investors pooled their wealth with the
hope of yielding a profit
Jamestown First permanent English settlement in North America
William Penn Founder of Pennsylvania
mercantilism Theory that a country’s goal was self-sufficiency and that all
countries were in a competition to acquire the most gold and silver
triangular trade The pattern of shipping trade across the Atlantic
Enlightenment Intellectual movement that started in Europe and applied reason
and scientific methods to politics and social concerns
Great Awakening Religious revival movement in the colonies
French and Indian War War that gave the British control of North America

Before You Read

In this lesson you will learn about European exploration and
settlement of the Americas.

As You Read
Use a chart to answer Who? What? Where? When? How? and Why?
questions about the colonial era.

SPANISH COLONIES of Africa, and India as well.

What led the Spanish to claim land in Then Spain sponsored the voyage of
the Americas? Christopher Columbus as commander of
In the 1400s new technology enabled the ships the Niña, the Pinta, and the
Europeans to venture out over oceans. Santa María. Searching for the Indies,
Ship captains tried new vessels called he instead reached islands in the
caravels and used the compass and Americas. There he encountered a group
astrolabe to plot direction at sea. of Native Americans called the Taino.
Portugal was a leader in such ocean This introduction to the Americas led
exploration, reaching the southern tip the Spanish to further explore and claim

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Lesson 1, continued

the land. They believed it contained gold Colony under the terms of the
and silver. Explorer Hernándo Cortés Mayflower Compact. This agreement
conquered the Aztec to claim Mexico. was a first step toward establishing
Likewise, Francisco Pizarro defeated the democracy in North America. The first
Inca empire in South America. In 1513 New England settlement was not free of
Juan Ponce de León explored what is conflict. Roger Williams’s differing
now Florida. beliefs about the rights of people led
The Spanish established colonies in him to flee and start the colony of
the lands they claimed. They forced Rhode Island.
Native Americans to work as slave labor Meanwhile, the Dutch West India
in what is known as the encomienda Company established the colony of New
system. In the mid-1500s the Spanish Netherland in their quest for trade
began to explore and settle the goods. In time, the English peacefully
southwest and west regions of what is took over the colony, renaming it New
now the United States. In time, Spanish York. New Amsterdam, the colonial
missions rose up as a way to convert capital, became New York City.
Native Americans to Christianity. William Penn soon established the
1. What new technology allowed the English colony of Pennsylvania nearby.
Spanish and other Europeans to This colony became known for its
venture across the Atlantic Ocean? support of the Quaker ideals of
equality, cooperation, and religious
toleration.
2. How did the reasons for the
settlement for Jamestown and the
Plymouth Colony differ?
ENGLISH COLONIES
Why were English colonies settled?
Spanish colonies were funded by the
country’s leader. In contrast, English
colonies were often funded by joint-
stock companies. These groups of COLONIAL ECONOMIES
investors were motivated by the desire to How did the colonial economies of
become rich. One such company, called the North and South differ?
the Virginia Company, sent colonists to Thirteen British colonies had been
settle in North America. John Smith founded by 1733. England benefited not
and other colonists established the only from the raw materials it gained
settlement of Jamestown in 1607. Smith from the colonies, but also from the sale
convinced the colonists to farm rather of manufactured goods back to them.
than search for gold. After a shaky start, England wanted to increase its wealth
the Jamestown colony survived, partly and power through the economic system
through the help of the native Powhatan of mercantilism. In other words,
people. England hoped to gain as much gold as
A group of Puritans started a colony possible and sell more goods than they
in New England for a different reason— bought. The English desire for trade
the desire to have religious freedom. helped both the English and the
These Pilgrims founded the Plymouth colonists.
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Lesson 1, continued

The northern and southern colonies about the importance of religion. The
began to build very different economies. movement strengthened Christianity but
The southern economy was based on also encouraged colonists to challenge
agriculture, and featured large the authority of established churches.
plantations that focused on growing Both the Great Awakening and the
crops for sale. Slavery became an Enlightenment caused people to
important way to fill labor needs. The question traditional authority. This, in
sale of African people was part of a turn, led colonists to question Britain’s
transatlantic network described as the authority over their lives.
triangular trade. 4. How did the Enlightenment affect
At the same time, the northern the political attitudes of colonists?
colonies concentrated on industries such
as harvesting fish and building ships.
Many immigrants arrived in the
northern colonies to start new lives
there.
3. Why was the triangular trade THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR
important to the southern colonies? What caused the French and Indian
War and what were its effects?
At this same time British colonies in
America were growing, the French had
been establishing colonies in Canada
and the Mississippi River valley. The
NEW SOCIAL MOVEMENTS colonists usually got along with Native
How did the Enlightenment and the Americans because they valued them as
Great Awakening affect the colonies? partners in the fur trade.
During the Renaissance, Europeans The French and Indian War was
had begun using reasoning to make actually fought between the French and
discoveries about nature. These ideas the British over disputes about who
about nature led to a movement called controlled the Ohio River valley region.
the Enlightenment, that applied reason Many Native Americans sided with the
and scientific methods to politics and French, giving the war its name.
social concerns. The British suffered early defeats but
Colonists, including Benjamin finally won the war. The war came to an
Franklin, embraced the idea of gaining end with the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
truth through experimentation and Britain gained Canada and much of
reasoning. Franklin for example, flew North America east of the Mississippi
his now-famous kite to demonstrate that River. It also claimed Florida from
lightning is a form of electrical power. Spain.
Enlightenment ideas also affected To help settle conflicts with Native
political thought. Thomas Jefferson and Americans, the British prohibited
other colonists reasoned that human colonists from settling west of the
beings are born with natural rights that Appalachian Mountains with the
governments must respect. Proclamation of 1763. Colonists ignored
Another movement called the Great this and continued settling on Native
Awakening brought back Puritan ideas American lands.
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Lesson 1, continued

5. What were the effects of the French

and Indian War?

Answer these Who? What? Where? When? How? and Why? questions
about the colonial era.

Spanish Colonies
1. When did Europeans begin using
the oceans to reach other lands?
2. Why did the Spanish want to claim
land in the Americas?
3. Who was the first European to
explore Florida?
English Colonies
4. What Native American group helped
the Jamestown settlers survive?
5. How did the Mayflower Compact
affect the future United States?
Colonial Economies
6. What did England hope to gain
through mercantilism?

7. How were the economies of the

southern colonies and the northern
colonies different?

New Social Movements

8. How did Enlightenment ideas
influence Thomas Jefferson?

9. What effect did the Enlightenment

and the Great Awakening have on
the colonists’ view of authority?

The French and Indian War

10. What two nations fought over
territory during the French and
Indian War?
11. Where were colonists prohibited
from settling under the Proclamation
of 1763?

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