England
What was the first permanent English settlement in North America?
Jamestown, founded in 1607 in what is now Virginia.
Who was the first Portuguese explorer to reach the coast of Brazil?
Pedro Álvares Cabral. He arrived in April 1500 while trying to find a route to India.
Who was the first major French explorer to claim land in North America?
Jacques Cartier. In the 1530s, he explored the St. Lawrence River and claimed the surrounding region for France, naming it "Canada."
Who was the explorer hired by the Dutch to find a shortcut to Asia?
Henry Hudson, an Englishman who ended up exploring the river that now bears his name (the Hudson River).
Who led the first Spanish expedition to reach the Americas?
Christopher Columbus. Although he was Italian, he sailed for the Spanish monarchy (King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella) and landed in the Caribbean in 1492.
What famous "lost colony" disappeared before Jamestown was even founded?
Roanoke. When a supply ship returned in 1590, the entire colony had vanished, leaving only the word "Croatoan" carved into a post.
Which treaty divided the "New World" between Portugal and Spain?
The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494). It drew an imaginary line through the Atlantic; everything to the east belonged to Portugal, which is why they got Brazil.
What was the name of the vast territory France controlled in North America?
New France (Nouvelle-France). At its peak, this territory stretched from the Hudson Bay in the north all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico in the south.
What was the name of the Dutch colony located in modern-day New York?
New Netherland. It covered parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Delaware.
What were the "Three Gs" that motivated Spanish explorers?
Gold, God, and Glory. These represent the desire for wealth (Gold), the mission to spread Christianity (God), and the search for personal and national fame (Glory).
Who were the settlers that arrived on the Mayflower in 1620?
The Pilgrims. they were seeking religious freedom and established the Plymouth Colony in present-day Massachusetts.
What was the first major resource the Portuguese exported from Brazil?
It was a tree highly valued for producing a vibrant red dye used in European textiles.
Which city was founded by Samuel de Champlain in 1608?
Champlain is often called the "Father of New France" because this settlement became the heart of French colonial administration and trade.
What was the original Dutch name for New York City?
New Amsterdam. It was established on the southern tip of Manhattan Island as the colony's capital.
What were the Spanish soldier-explorers called?
The most famous examples include Hernán Cortés, who led the campaign against the Aztecs, and Francisco Pizarro, who led the campaign against the Incas.
Which "cash crop" eventually made the Virginia colony profitable and successful?
Tobacco. It became so popular in Europe that it was often used as a form of currency in the colonies.
What was the primary crop grown on large Portuguese plantations?
By the mid-1500s, Portugal had turned Brazil into the world’s leading sugar producer, which unfortunately led to a massive reliance on enslaved labor.
What was the most important resource the French traded for in North America?
Animal furs, especially beaver pelts. Unlike the Spanish who looked for gold, the French built their economy on a massive trading network with Indigenous peoples to supply Europe with fur for hats and clothing.
What was the main item the Dutch traded for in North America?
Beaver pelts (furs). These were high-demand luxury items used to make hats in Europe.
Which two major empires did Spain conquer in the Americas?
The Aztec Empire (in modern-day Mexico) and the Inca Empire (in modern-day Peru).
How many original colonies did England eventually establish along the Atlantic coast?
These colonies eventually banded together to fight for independence during the American Revolution.
What was the name of the system Portugal used to divide the land among settlers?
The King divided the coast into 15 strips of land and gave them to nobles (donatários) to develop and defend.
What happened to most of France’s North American territory in 1763?
France lost the land to Great Britain. Following their defeat in the Seven Years' War (known in America as the French and Indian War), the Treaty of Paris forced France to cede almost all of its North American claims.
Which company was in charge of Dutch colonization in the Americas?
The Dutch West India Company (WIC). They were a private business granted a monopoly on trade by the Dutch government.
What was the "Columbian Exchange"?
It was the global transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World (Europe, Africa, and Asia) following Columbus's voyages.