Changes

Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That's why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

Soon Spain and Portugal divided the Americas with the [[Line of Demarcation]], drawn by the Pope.  The [[Treaty of Tordesillas]] moved the line in 1493.  It was a North-South line that gave Spain North America and the western part of South America, but Portugal received Brazil.  That's why Brazilians speak Portuguese to this day.

The incredible genius of Columbus -- or Providence -- was proven a year later on his second voyage across the Atlantic.  Amid the vast ocean, he was able to find the precise same location that he had reached on his first voyage on the island if [[Hispaniola]].  That is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of a football stadium.  But Columbus's colony had not survived in his absence.

The incredible genius of Columbus -- or Providence -- was proven a year later on his second voyage across the Atlantic.  Amid the vast ocean, Columbus was able to find the precise same location that he had reached on his first voyage on the island of [[Hispaniola]].  That is like finding a needle in a haystack the size of a football stadium.  But Columbus's colony had not survived in his absence.

Columbus sailed on a total of three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died a failure.  His ultimate dream of liberating Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted, was not achieved.  But what he did achieve was to open the New World to spreading Christianity and creating new wealth.

Columbus sailed on a total of three subsequent voyages, but never achieved his goal and died a failure.  His ultimate dream of liberating Jerusalem, as the Crusades attempted, was not realized.  But what he did achieve was to open the New World to spreading Christianity and creating new wealth.

Columbus's efforts resulting in giving Spain [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

Columbus's efforts resulting in Spain acquiring [[Haiti]], [[Puerto Rico]], [[Jamaica]] and [[Cuba]] by 1515.  Spain then settled Florida (St. Augustine), and later Santa Fe (now in New Mexico).  Spanish [[Hernando Cortes]] conquered the Aztecs in central Mexico (1521), and [[Francisco Pizarro]] conquered the Incas of Peru (1531).  They seized much gold in the process.

Fifteen years after Columbus's maiden voyage, map-makers (cartographers) coined the named "America" for the New World in honor of another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.  Between 1499 and 1502 he explored the east coast of South America, and was the first to recognize that the new land was a separate continent rather than part of Asia.

Fifteen years after Columbus's maiden voyage, map-makers (cartographers) coined the named "America" for the New World in honor of another Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.  Between 1499 and 1502 he explored the east coast of South America, and was the first to recognize that the new land was a separate continent rather than part of Asia.

But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were also entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.

But while Spanish soldiers came to America, Spanish women did not.  So there were not many distinct, permanent Spanish settlements.  Also, the Spanish were entirely subservient to their King back in Europe.  Separate governments did not develop.

Other European powers were exploring North America also.  The French explored the St. Lawrence and settled Quebec, where French is still spoken to this day.  The French also explored the Mississippi, and settled the towns of Saint Louis (named after a French king) and New Orleans.

Other European powers were exploring North America also.  The French explored the St. Lawrence and settled Quebec, where French is still spoken to this day.  The French also explored the Mississippi, and settled the towns of Saint Louis (named after a French king) and New Orleans.

The Swedish settled in Delaware; Germans settled later in Pennsylvania.

The Swedish settled in Delaware; Germans settled later in Pennsylvania.

Explorer [[John Cabot]] discovered the North American coastline for England in 1497.  But no settlements were attempted by the English for about another 100 years.

Explorer [[John Cabot]] discovered the North American coastline for England in 1497.  But no settlements were attempted by the English for about another 100 years, because North America didn't have what the explorers were looking for.  America lacked valuable natural resources.  There was no gold, which is what Europeans wanted.  In 1576, the British explorer [[Martin Frobisher]] even hauled 200 tons of material back to England, hoping it was gold.  It wasn’t.

The reason is that North America didn’t have what the explorers were looking for.  America lacked valuable natural resources.  There was no gold, which is what Europe wanted.  In 1576, the British explorer [[Martin Frobisher]] even hauled 200 tons of material back to England, hoping it was gold.  It wasn’t.

There wasn't anything else of much value to Europe.  New England was too rocky near the coast to develop farms.  The mid-Atlantic region or Chesapeake area, where Maryland and Virginia are today, was infested with malaria. Winters were cold, and summers were hot.

 

There wasn’t anything else of value to Europe either.  New England was too rocky near the coast to develop farms.  The mid-Atlantic region or Chesapeake area, where Maryland and Virginia are today, was infested with malaria. Winters were cold, and summers were hot.

There was no livestock – no horses and no cattle, until the Spanish imported them.  Florida was a swamp, and did not even have orange trees until the Spanish explorer [[Ponce de Leon]] planted them in 1515.   

There was no livestock – no horses and no cattle, until the Spanish imported them.  Florida was a swamp, and did not even have orange trees until the Spanish explorer [[Ponce de Leon]] planted them in 1515.   

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

Think about it.  Would your family uproot and move, at great risk to your lives, to a place that had no civilization or anything of value?  Do we see families moving to the middle of the desert in Arizona, or to cheap land in the middle of Wyoming?  Only very rarely.

[[England]]'s first settlement of [[North America]] was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in [[Virginia]].  More than 100 families settled there, but within a few years they had all disappeared.  It remains a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians, although note that Indian attacks were often at the prodding of a rival European group, and there was no rival European group at that time.  No one knows the real reason for the disappearance of this settlement, and it's called the "[[Lost Colony]]."

[[England]]'s first settlement of [[North America]] was in 1585, on [[Roanoke Island]] in [[Virginia]].  More than 100 families settled there, but within a few years they had all disappeared.  It remains a mystery to this day what happened.  They could have died from disease or starvation.  They could have been killed by Indians.  No one knows the real reason for the disappearance of this settlement, and it's called the "[[Lost Colony]]."

About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could protect its colonies against other European powers.

About the same time, however, England had a huge success in Europe.  Spain had ruled the high seas for most of the 1500s, until England destroyed the Spanish Armada in 1588.  That left England with the potential to gain control of the oceans and world trade over the seas.  England could then protect its newly developing colonies against other European powers.

== Successful Settlements ==

== Successful Settlements ==