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3–4 H SPANISH EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST OF AMERICA, 1492-1610

Columbus was right. The spirit of adventure brought many explorers to America.

Here is an overview of Spanish explorers, who came first.1492 1610 Present

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H SPANISH EXPLORATION AND CONQUEST OF AMERICA, 1492-1610

Meanwhile, in 1519 Spain hiredPortuguese Ferdinand Magellanto sail westward around the worldto find the Indies. He was killedin the Philippine Islands, which heclaimed for Spain, but in 1522 oneof his 5 ships completed thehistoric, first trip around the world—with only 18 of 239 mensurviving.

Three G’s motivated the remarkableSpanish conquest of America:1. GOLD—the search for wealth2. GLORY—the search for fame3. GOD—the aim to convertIndians to Catholic Christianity,Spain’s official religion.

“I came to America to serve Godand His Majesty, to give light tothose who were in darkness, and togrow rich, as all men desire to do.”

Spanish colonizers enslaved the Indiansthey conquered and used their labor tofarm, mine, and build cities. In 1542 !"#$%$&'()'(*!+(,!+!+, a humaneSpanish priest in Hispaniola, persuadedKing Charles V to end Indian slavery,but Indian abuse continued.

European diseases proved fatal to theIndians, for they had no immunity.Millions died; they were replaced byenslaved Africans.

Spain ruled New Spain and Peruwith a tight fist, allowing norepresentative government, no freetrade, no freedom of religion—allthe while growing rich from NewWorld gold and silver.

Yet Spain gave New Spain and Perua rich endowment of westerncivilization in terms of people,language, law, literature,universities, religion, plants, andlivestock (horses, cows, pigs).

The empire founded by Columbus in1492 ended for Spain three centurieslater, when her American colonies wontheir independence. But even by 1600,Spain had lost her monopoly inAmerica, as rival nations challenged herlead.

Before we check on France, let’s explorewith one of Spain’s North Americanconquistadors: Hernando De Soto.

'"-!%(./!0

a colonist ofHispaniola,

wrote:

!"#$%&"# '#&(%)*#%*"$)&%#+%,#'-.

By 1550 bold Spanish conquistadors(conquerors) had founded a vast empire,NEW SPAIN and PERU, conquering thegold-rich Aztecs and Incas in the process. By1610 Spain’s empire stretched larger than theancient Roman Empire.

Excitement about Columbus’discovery spread throughoutEurope.

Spain, France, England, Portugal,and Holland—all competing forwealth and power—began stakingtheir claims.

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Now back to the BIG RACE FOR NORTH AMERICA:France—envious of Spain’s American wealth and eager to find a northwest passage tothe riches of Asia—ignored the Pope’s division of the New World between Spain andPortugal and claimed her “rights of discovery” in North America with the voyages ofbrave adventurers.

Pope Clement VII scolded KingFrancis I for violating the Treatyof Tordesillas. The king, unfazed,had a quick answer.

3–6 H FRANCE CLAIMS NORTH AMERICA—INCLUDING ARKANSAS, 1524-1763

1492 1524 Present 1763

NORTH

AMERICA

St. Lawrence

SOUTH

AMERICA

NEW

FRANCE

River

Quebec

SPAIN

PORTUGAL

PORTUGAL

SPAIN

Treaty of TordesillasLine—1494

—

Newfoundland

Grand Banks

Cartier, 1534-36

Verrazano, 1524

Champlain, 1603-08

Spain

France

AFRICA

Portugal

England

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

FRENCH EXPLORATIONS IN THE NEW WORLD

PACIFIC

OCEAN

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H FRANCE CLAIMS NORTH AMERICA—INCLUDING ARKANSAS, 1524-1763

Leading the 1673 Frenchexpedition were Louis Joliet,a fur trader, and Father JacquesMarquette, a Jesuit priest whospoke five Indian languages.

They stopped in present-day Arkansas(near Arkansas Post), where friendlyQuapaw Indians saved them thetrouble of continuing down-river.Joliet and Marquette returned home.

1682—Nine years later Robert LaSalle led another French expeditiondown the Mississippi River. He wasdetermined to reach the Gulf ofMexico. Henry de Tonti, an Italianin the service of France, was hislieutenant.

Enroute to the Gulf of Mexico, La Salle stopped in present-day Arkansas,near the earlier landing of Joliet and Marquette. He visited with friendly QuapawIndians and erected a Christian cross. He must have surprised them when he said:

ROBERT

LA SALLE

1673—America’s interior river highways beckoned France.The French wanted to:♦ open new fur trade routes,

♦ find a water route to China,

♦ convert the Indians to Christianity,

♦ extend the French empire.

New France

An expedition left New France (Canada)to explore the Mississippi River.

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3–7 H ENGLAND ENTERS THE RACE FOR NORTH AMERICA, 1497-1588

1492 1588 Present

1588—Defeat of the Spanish Armadacame as a storm scattered the fleet,enabling crafty English seadogs—led bySir Francis Drake—to out-maneuverand sink much of the “invincible” Armada.

In 1579 English seaman Francis Drake—on a daring round-the-world voyage—staked a claim for England in NorthAmerica. So did Henry Hudson, aDutchman sailing for England in 1610,but England was slow to colonize.

Then, in 1584, Sir Walter Raleigh,with the help of geographer Richard

Hakluyt, convinced Queen Elizabeth I

that colonies in North America would

make England as rich and powerful as

Spain.

1584—Virginia was founded whenthe Queen gave Raleigh a land grantstretching from present-day NorthCarolina to Maine. He named it

1587: THE LOST COLONY—Raleighsent 117 people to settle Roanoke Islandoff North Carolina’s coast. By 1591 theydisappeared, leaving the name of anIndian tribe, Croatoan, carved on a post.What do you think happened?

Meanwhile, daredevil English seadogsFrancis Drake and John Hawkinspirated Spanish ships carryingAmerican gold. England grew richfrom this stolen treasure, and Spaingrew angry!

1588—Furious, Spanish King Philip IIbuilt a 130-ship Armada to invade andpunish England. The largest fleet inhistory, the Armada stretched sevenmiles as it sailed toward England.

Virginia for Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen.

1497—English King Henry VIIregretted his refusal to back Columbusin 1492. So in 1497 he paid JohnCabot, a Frenchman, about $50 tofind a North American passage to Asia.Cabot discovered Newfoundlandinstead.