Why Explore?
What was one major reason European countries explored North America besides gaining wealth and power?
Christianity/religion
Which country’s colonization efforts were most closely connected to missions, conversion to Christianity, and the search for mineral wealth?
Spain
Which European country claimed the largest areas of present-day Mexico, Central America, Florida, Texas, and California?
Spain
What two parts of the world exchanged plants, animals, diseases, and goods during the Columbian Exchange?
Eastern and Western Hemispheres / Old World and New World
Which group experienced a major population decline because of European diseases?
Indigenous peoples / Native Americans
What activity is summarized by the phrase “Gold, God, and Glory”?
European exploration
Which country developed fewer large permanent settlements because its colonization focused heavily on trade and relationships with Native American groups?
France
Which European country’s claims were concentrated along the Atlantic coast of North America?
England
Which direction did horses, cattle, and smallpox travel during the Columbian Exchange?
West - from Europe to the Americas
How did Spain’s goal of spreading Christianity affect colonization?
Spain built missions and sent missionaries to convert Native Americans
What economic activity encouraged Europeans to search for faster routes to Asia?
Trade
Which country was most likely to establish permanent agricultural settlements with large numbers of European families?
England
Which geographic features helped France develop trade networks deep into the interior of North America?
Rivers and lakes, especially the St. Lawrence and Mississippi River systems
Which item does not belong with the others: horses, cattle, smallpox, corn? Explain why.
Corn, because it originated in the Americas and traveled east. The others came from the Europe and traveled west to the Americas.
How did France’s interest in the fur trade affect where the French settled?
The French settled near rivers and lakes where trade and transportation were easier.
Name 3 things European countries were competing to gain when they claimed land overseas?
Natural resources, wealth, and power
Which country’s economic goals led settlers to rely heavily on rivers and waterways to connect trading posts with Native American trade networks?
France
Which European country controlled the largest amount of territory in the Americas, including Mexico, Central America, and much of western South America?
Spain
What was one major effect of the Columbian Exchange on Native American populations, and what caused this change?
Native American populations decreased greatly because European diseases, such as smallpox, spread among people who had little immunity.
Why did European explorers want to find the Northwest Passage?
They hoped to find a shorter, faster water route to Asia so they could increase trade and gain wealth.
What is the difference between exploration and colonization?
Exploration involves traveling to, learning about, or claiming new lands; colonization involves establishing settlements and control there.
What was one major difference between Spanish and French settlement patterns, even though both claimed large areas of North America?
Spain established missions, forts, and permanent settlements to control territory and spread Christianity, while France relied more heavily on trading posts and waterways to support the fur trade.
What does a map of European colonization show about where Spain, France, and England settled in the Americas?
Spain claimed much of the South and West, France settled mainly along major rivers and lakes, and England settled along the Atlantic coast.
What made the Columbian Exchange an “exchange” rather than simply Europeans bringing things to the Americas? Give evidence.
Goods moved in both directions. Europe brought items such as horses, cattle, and diseases to the Americas, while American crops such as corn and potatoes traveled to Europe.
How did European exploration change both the land and the people of the Americas?
It led to European colonies, new trade and resources, the spread of plants and animals, and major changes to Native American populations and cultures.