I. The 3 Discoveries of the Americas

A. Native Americans (around 35,000 BC)

B. Vikings (1000 AD)

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C. Christopher Columbus (1492)

III. Reasons for Exploration cont…

After Columbus “Discovery”

3 basic reasons drove Europeans toward searching for a sea route to Asia & later to the settling of America (The 3 G’s).

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• “Gold” – The desire for wealth in any form. Valuable metals like gold & silver, valuable goods & spices to increase trade & profit.
• “Glory” – The desire for more land for the glory of the country. Also, for explorers, the desire for the glory of discovery & becoming famous & wealthy.
• “God” – The desire to spread the Christian religion AND to seek their own religious freedom.

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IV. European Explorations Continued

1. Spain’s explorations began with the voyage of Christopher Columbus in 1492 in search for a shorter trade route to Asia by sailing west around the world.

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2. Columbus reached land on Oct. 12, 1492. He named the land San Salvador & claimed it for Spain. He later made 3 more voyages claiming land for Spain & still searching for India. While he never found India, he did “discover” a New World for Europe…the Americas.

A. Spain’s Exploration continued

A. Spain’s Exploration continued

3. Spain sent more Conquistadors (conquerors) to claim more land for Spain in the Americas.

--named the lands “New Spain” and

- built a capital St. Augustine in Florida

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4. Spain’s conquest included: Florida, SW North America, along with Central America, and most of South America.

- Spain become rich due to Gold and Silver in region

A. Spain’s Exploration continued…

5. It was AMERIGO VESPUCCHI that first began to realize from his explorations that these new lands were not India. Mapmakers used his reports to make better maps & began to label these new lands in his honor,“The AMERICAS”.

A. Spain’s Exploration continued…

6. The Spanish were the first Europeans to attempt settlements in the SC area.

a. San Miguel (1526) near the Waccamaw River � across from present day Georgetown, SC.

b. Santa Elena and Fort San Felipe (1566) near � present day Parris Island, SC. were built to � protect Spanish gold shipping routes along the � coast of S.C.

d. Fort San Marcos (1577) also near present day � Parris Island. SC.

e. Lack of food & mistreatment of Indians led to their failure. Spain mostly sent explorers & soldiers, not farmers & families, to try to settle the lands and were not successful in the SC area.

I. European Exploration Continued

A. France’s Exploration

1. France sent explorers beginning in 1524 to � also claim land for France in efforts to keep � a balance of power with Spain.

2. Most of the French explorers explored & � claimed land for France along the St. � Lawrence River and Great Lakes areas of � present day Canada. France began to � make great profits from the trade of animal � skins & furs.

New France

B. The French sailed down the St. Lawrence River in search of the Northwest Passage & claimed the region for France.

1. Settlements established at Montreal and Quebec.

2. French traders established trade with the natives, yet they treated the natives poorly.

3. Built settlements along the Mississippi River, named the land Louisiana, after King Louis XIV of France

C. France’s Exploration continued…�

• The French attempted one settlement in the SC area in 1562 named Port Royal. French explorer Jean Ribaut (re BO) explored present day Parris Island, SC and had a fort built named Charlesfort in honor of King Charles of France. The fort was to protect the settlement of Port Royal.
• But this French settlement failed due to lack of food and problems with the Indians. Like Spain, France did not send many farmers & families to settle land.

French Colony at Charlesfort

(Read and Summarize)

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• Jean Ribault tried to build a settlement for the Huguenots (French Protestants) near present-day Beaufort. Named Charlesfort in honor of the king.
• Ribault returned to France to get more supplies; war in Europe prevented a swift return.
• Believing that Ribault would soon return, settlers did not plant crops, and eventually ran out of supplies.
• The remaining men killed their leader and built a boat to return home. On their way home, food supplies were exhausted and the men turned to cannibalism. They were eventually saved by a passing English ship.

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