History 1　Explorers and Colonies (beginning to the 1600s)

History 1　Explorers and Colonies (the 1600s)

Even so, there were many successful collaborations between the Native Americans and the newcomers. One of these was in Jamestown, VA, in 1607. Jamestown was one of the first English colonies in the US founded by John Smith from England. Pocahontas, the daughter of the Native chief Powhatan, is said to have become friends with the new settlers.

Portugal and Spain made a treaty in 1570? to divide South America; Portugal claimed the East(now Brazil) and Spain got the West. Spanish explorers arrived in Central America and from there, explored the West Coast of both Americas. In Delaware, the Swedish first arrived, but were taken over by the Dutch in 1665. The Dutch already controlled New York: they bought Manhattan in 1626 from the local Native Americans for "24 dollars and a box of trinkets."

In 1682 the Quakers (William Penn) came from England to Pennsylvania and Delaware. In 1673, Marquette and Joillet from France claimed the Louisiana Mississippi River area. The Spanish retook the Southwest in 1692, and the French and Indian wars from 1689–1763 ended with France giving up its land to Spain. There are still many Spanish missions along the California coast built after these wars.

Two of the most famous colonies are the Plymouth Colony and Salem, both in Massachusetts. In 1620 the Pilgrims came to Massachusetts on the Mayflower. They made the Plymouth colony and the first Thanksgiving. Roger Conant started the Salem Colony in 1623. It is famous for the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.

The Thirteen Original Colonies

The history of America (that is, North America) starts many thousands of years before Columbus "discovered" America in 1492. There were over 500 nations of American Indians, or Native Americans, living there before Europeans came. One of the oldest nations is the Anasazi in the Southwest, who lived in 5500 BC! Other famous tribes are Navaho, Cherokee and Shawnee. Many of these people were mistreated by Europeans when they came into contact: some were enslaved, some were killed, some were driven out of their lands. Still more became sick and died from diseases brought by Europeans, to which they had no immunity. The Arawaks, who lived on the island found by Columbus, were almost completely wiped out in a few years. Many US place names are from Native American tribes; like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Erie, and Cheyenne.

Columbus was not the only explorer to reach the New World, as it was then called. French explorers including John Cabot in 1497 and Jacques Cartier explored what is now Canada and Louisiana. Vasco da Gama sailed from Spain to India. In 1519 Magellan sailed from Spain around the world. In 1534, Jacques Cartier began exploring Canada. In 1579, Sir Francis Drake from England landed in Central California. From Spain, Coronado entered the Southwest in 1520 and Don Juan de Onate founded and settled New Mexico. Portugal and Spain made a treaty in 1570? to divide South America; Portugal claimed the East(now Brazil) and Spain got the West. Spanish explorers arrived in Central America and from there, explored the West Coast of both Americas. In New York, the Swedish first arrived, but were quickly taken over by the Dutch, who bought Manhattan from the local Native Americans for "24 dollars and a box of trinkets."

From Geography to History

History 1　Explorers and Colonies

Look at the map here again. Each　state has a date. This date is the year it became a member of the US. But why were the oldest States all on the East side of the country? And why did California become a state so much earlier than most of the other Western states? To answer these questions, we need to study history.

America before 1800 Many people think the history of the US began with Columbus, but it actually started much earlier. Some of the oldest cultures in America are those of the Native Americans. There is a good series on Native Americans called “500 Nations”. Native American Tribes and Languages

 5500 BC-1492 AD

The oldest tribe may be the Anasazi who lived in the Southwest US since 5500 BC. Other famous tribes are Navaho, Cherokee and Shawnee.

Some US place names are from Native American tribes: like Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Erie, and Cheyenne. . Native Americans Today 1492 The coming of Columbus

 Columbus"discovered" the New World  in 1492 and claimed it for Spain.  He landed somewhere in the Bahama Islands.  The native Americans there were called Arawaks. 

What happened to the Arawaks?

Some Arawaks were made slaves by the Europeans. Others got European diseases and died. Look at what happened to them:

Columbus wasn’t the only one! In 1497 John Cabot sailed from England to Canada and Vasco da Gama sailed from Spain to India. In 1519 Magellan sailed from Spain around the world.

John Cabot Vasco da Gama Magellan

1520-1607 even more explorers…! In 1534, Jacques Cartier began exploring Canada.

    From England:

In 1579, Sir Francis Drake landed in Central California.

From Spain: In 1520 Coronado entered the Southwest and took Indian Pueblos as slaves.

1598 Don Juan de Onate (Spain) founded and settled New Mexico

The history of America (that is, North America) starts many thousands of years before Columbus "discovered" America in 1492. There were over 500 nations of American Indians, or Native Americans, living there before Europeans came. One of the oldest nations is the Anasazi in New Mexico. Many of these people were mistreated by Europeans when they came into contact: some were enslaved, some were killed, some were driven out of their lands. Still more became sick and died from diseases brought by Europeans, to which they had no immunity. The Arawaks, who lived on the island found by Columbus, were almost completely wiped out in a few years.

Columbus was not the only explorer to reach the New World, as it was then called. French explorers including John Cabot and Cartier explored what is now Canada and Louisiana. Portugal and Spain made a treaty in 1570? to divide South America; Portugal claimed the East(now Brazil) and Spain got the West. Spanish explorers arrived in Central America and from there, explored the West Coast of both Americas. In New York, the Swedish first arrived, but were quickly taken over by the Dutch, who bought Manhattan from the local Native Americans for "24 dollars and a box of trinkets."

Even so, there were many successful collaborations between the Native Americans and the newcomers. One of these was Jamestown, MA, in 1607, one of the first English colonies in the US. Pocahontas, the daughter of the Native chief Powhatan, is said to have become friends with the new settlers, and this led to the first Thanksgiving.