HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY 501A NEW WORLD

CONTENTS

I. EUROPEAN EXPLORERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2The Discovery of North America . . . . . . . . . . . 3Spanish Explorers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7New France . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9New Netherlands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11English Exploration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

II. ENGLISH COLONIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17The First Colonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17New England Colonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Middle Colonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Southern Colonies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

III. REVOLUTION BEGINS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32America Before the Revolution . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Conflicts with Britain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38Revolt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Author: Theresa Buskey, J.D.Editor: Alan Christopherson, M.S.Illustrations: Brian Ring

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OBJECTIVES

Read these objectives. The objectives tell you what you should be able to dowhen you have successfully completed this LIFEPAC.

When you have finished this LIFEPAC, you should be able to:

1. Name the explorers who were important in American history and what theyexplored.

2. Name the nations that claimed land in America and what they claimed.3. Describe how each of the British colonies were founded and by whom.4. Describe what the British colonies were like before the Revolution.5. Describe the French and Indian War and why it changed Britain’s thinking

about its American colonies.6. Describe the conflicts with Britain that led the Americans to revolt.7. Describe the beginning of the Revolutionary War and the birth of the United

States of America.

VOCABULARY

Study these new words. Learning the meanings of these words is a good studyhabit and will improve your understanding of this LIFEPAC.

acre (a’ k\r). A unit used to measure area, especially the size of land for farming; It isequal to 160 square rods. There are 640 acres in a square mile.

ambush (am’ bush). A surprise attack on an approaching enemy from a hiding placeboycott (boi’ kot). To join together against and agree not to buy from, sell to, or

associate with a person, business or nationcommunity (k\ myü’ n\ te). A group of people living together or sharing common

interestsevangelist (i van’ j\ l\st). A person who preaches the gospel to win people to Christfrontier (frun tir’). The last edge of settled country, where the wild countryside beginsgovernor (guv’ \r n\r). An official appointed or elected to rule a province or colonyindependence (in’ di pen’ d\ns). A freedom from the control, support, influence, or help

of others

A NEW WORLDThis year you will learn the story, the

history, of our nation, the United States ofAmerica. You will learn how it was created,how it survived, what people led it and whatit has accomplished in the world. It is anamazing story of a nation led by the hand ofGod. It is also your story. God created you tobe an American and to do your part in thehistory of your nation. When you grow upyou will become a voting citizen, agovernment employee, or maybe even anelected official. Learn the history of yournation so you can better understand yourplace in America.

The origin of something is its beginningor source. This LIFEPAC® will teach youabout the origins of the United States ofAmerica. It will teach you about the menwho came from Europe, explored this land,and stayed to build their lives here. You willlearn about how they formed thirteencolonies under the control of Great Britain.When Britain began to rule unfairly, thecolonies formed their own nation, theUnited States.

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jury (jur e ). A group of citizens chosen to hear evidence in a case brought before a courtof law; it, not the judge, decides the case based on the evidence

militia (m\ lish’ \). An army of citizens who are not regular soldiers but who are trainedfor war or any other emergency

monopoly (m\ nop’ \ le). The complete control of a product or servicenobleman (no ’ b\l m\n). A man who has high social standing by birth, rank, or titlepetition (p\ tish’ \n). A written request to someone in authority for some right or

privilege often signed by many peoplerefuge (ref ’ yüj). Shelter or protection from danger or troublerepublic (ri pub’ lik). A government in which the citizens elect representatives to

manage the government which is usually headed by a presidentScandinavia (skan’ d\ na ve \). A region in northwestern Europe that includes Norway,

Sweden, Denmark, and sometimes Finland and Iceland

I. EUROPEAN EXPLORERS

The culture of the United States andmost of its people came from Europe. Youread last year about the European sailorswho explored our earth and mapped it. Inthis section, you will learn about those whodid this work in North America, ourcontinent.

Four nations explored and claimed landin what is today the United States. Theywere: Spain, France, the Netherlands, andEngland. Each nation claimed a portion ofland and started colonies there to protect it.

Eventually, England would take over boththe Dutch and the French claims. TheSpanish colonies would be taken by theUnited States years later.

This section will teach you about thesenations and their explorers. You will learnwhat parts of America they claimed and howthey settled it. This was the very beginningof the events that changed America from awilderness, which was home to scatteredNative American tribes, into a powerful,united nation.

Review these objectives. When you have completed this section, you should be able to:

1. Name the explorers who were important in American history and what theyexplored.

2. Name the nations that claimed land in America and what they claimed.

Restudy these words.

nobleman Scandinavia

Note: These words appear in boldface print the first time they are used in this LIFEPAC. If youare unsure of the meaning when you are reading, review the definition.

Pronunciation Key: hat, a-ge, cãre, fär; let, e- qual, te.rm; it, i

-ce; hot, o-pen, ôrder; oil; out; cup,

pu. t, rüle; child; long; thin; /T-h/ for then; /zh/ for measure; /\/ represents /a/ in about, /e/ in taken,/i/ in pencil /o/ in lemon, and /u/ in circus.

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Native Americans. The first people todiscover America did so long before theEuropeans began to explore. They werepeople from Asia who moved east fromBabel, after God confused the languages.(Genesis 11:1-9). After many years ofspreading east, some of these people crossedthe Bering Sea on the ice or on a piece ofland that is no longer there. These peoplesettled the continents of North and SouthAmerica. They became the many Indian orNative American tribes that still existtoday. The Iroquois, Cherokee, Navajo,Apache, and Sioux people are some of thedescendants of these first settlers.

Vikings. The Vikings were great sailorsand pirates from Scandinavia. From aboutA.D. 700 to 1100 they raided all over Europeto steal treasures and take slaves. Theirlong wooden boats were fast and sturdy.They were able to travel throughout Europeand even into the vast Atlantic Ocean.

These Vikings explored the islands westof Europe. They colonized (sent people tolive on) the island of Iceland northwest of

Europe in about A.D. 870. From Iceland,they discovered the island of Greenlandfurther west. A man named Eric the Red ledpeople to colonize that island in about A.D.985. One ship’s crew while trying to reachGreenland sailed too far, and became thevery first Europeans to see North America.

Eric the Red’s son, Lief Ericson, led thefirst voyage to explore this new land inabout A.D. 1000. He and his men probablylanded in what is now Canada. They stayedone winter. Other Vikings followed themand tried to colonize the new lands.However, all the colonies were eventuallyabandoned, possibly because of attacks bythe Indians. Icelandic sagas (stories)recorded Lief Ericson’s journey, but the restof Europe knew nothing about it. It wouldbe almost 500 years before Europeansreturned to America.

Trade. In the year 1400, the people ofEurope knew very little about the world.They knew about Europe, the northern partof Africa and most of Asia (except for the farnorth). Antarctica and Australia wereunknown. America was forgotten, except inthe sagas of Iceland. However, theEuropeans wanted to know more for a veryimportant reason, spices!

Spices for food were very valuable inEurope in 1400. They were often worth theirweight in gold. They came from the

The Discovery of North America

About Dates:

We date things by whether theyhappened before or after the birth ofJesus.

Something that happened before Hisbirth is dated B.C. (Before Christ).

Something that happened after Hisbirth is dated A.D. (Anno Domini–Latinfor “In the Year of Our Lord”).

So, David became king of Israel inabout 1000 B.C. (a thousand yearsbefore Jesus was born). Lief Ericsonlanded in America in about A.D. 1000(a thousand years after Jesus wasborn).

B.C. is written after the date, but A.D.is written in front of it. If there are noletters with a date, it is A.D.

THE VIKING ROUTE TO AMERICA

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southeastern part of Asia (called the FarEast or Spice Islands). The trade routes toget the spices from the Far East to Europeinvolved traveling over land and sea. Thetrips took a long time and were veryexpensive.

Europeans began to look for an all-waterroute to Asia in about 1400. Such a routewould allow them to avoid the dangerousand expensive land crossings. They would besafer from thieves who attacked thecaravans. They could send their own ships,fill them with spices and return on the opensea without having to pay tolls to anyone.Such a route would bring great wealth tothe men and nations that used it.

Henry the Navigator, a Portugueseprince, began the exploration of the earth tofind a water route to Asia. As you learned inLIFEPAC 401, he planned very carefully. Heset up a school of navigation in hishomeland to train sea captains and sailors.He organized voyages along the coast ofAfrica to explore, map, and search for awater route to Asia.

Prince Henry’s ships began sailing downthe west coast of Africa in about 1430. Eachship went further than the last one beforereturning to Portugal. In 1488, a Portuguese

ship under the command of BartholomeuDiaz sailed around the Cape of Good Hope,the bottom of Africa. Just ten years later,another Portuguese captain, Vasco daGama, sailed around Africa to India andback to Portugal. A water route to the FarEast had been found!

The new route brought changes toEurope. Spices became cheaper and moreplentiful. Portugal and its merchants grewrich from the trade with the Far East.Portugal protected its new wealth by settingup forts along the coast of Africa to makesure other nations did not trade along“their” route. Other nations had alreadybegun to search for their own route east.

Since most educated people knew theworld was a sphere, several thought ofsailing west, around the world to reachAsia. But, no one was certain how far west aship would have to sail to get there. Shipsusually sailed along coastlines. Sailing outinto the open ocean, without any promise ofland nearby was a frightening thought.Moreover, no one knew what dangers ormonsters lay out away from land. It wouldtake a brave and determined man to facesuch a great unknown.

DIAZ AND DA GAMA ROUTES TO INDIA