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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 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 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.

Columbus's efforts resulted 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.

In 1624 King James (of the "King James Bible" fame) took back ownership and control of the Virginia colony and established it as a royal charter.  The Virginia colony was mess, a problem colony that enslaved workers and grew tobacco.  More trouble was in its future.  In 1676, Nathanial Bacon was a Virginia settler who decided to take the law into his own hands.  He first massacred Indians in western Virginia, then took his small army of rebels to Jamestown, where he burned it down because the governor had refused to allow him to kill the Indians.  Bacon himself soon died from a disease.  This is known as [[Bacon's Rebellion]] and it resulted in less use of indentured servants and greater reliance on slaves, who could not rebel as easily.  Once he was sure Bacon was really dead, the governor returned and hung two dozen of his supporters.

In 1624 King James (of the "King James Bible" fame) took back ownership and control of the Virginia colony and established it as a royal charter.  The Virginia colony was mess, a problem colony that enslaved workers and grew tobacco.  More trouble was in its future.  In 1676, Nathanial Bacon was a Virginia settler who decided to take the law into his own hands.  He first massacred Indians in western Virginia, then took his small army of rebels to Jamestown, where he burned it down because the governor had refused to allow him to kill the Indians.  Bacon himself soon died from a disease.  This is known as [[Bacon's Rebellion]] and it resulted in less use of indentured servants and greater reliance on slaves, who could not rebel as easily.  Once he was sure Bacon was really dead, the governor returned and hung two dozen of his supporters.

The Virginia colony, despite all its troubles, later produced four of our first five presidents.  Why?  It was big and and rather prosperous.   

The Virginia colony, despite all its troubles, later produced four of our first five presidents.  Why?  It was big and rather prosperous.   

Let's turn to the Massachusetts settlements next.  Massachusetts had a much harsher climate than Virginia, particularly in the wintertime.  Its settlers were motivated by religion, not money.  They were unhappy with the oppressions of the Church of England, feeling it was too much like the Catholic Church.  Two different groups of these people set out for North America.  The first group, the Separatists or Pilgrims, wanted to separate completely from the Church of England and establish a religiously pure community.  The second group consisted of more mainstream Puritans who wanted to purify the church from within, without leaving it.  Both groups were types of Puritans, and both groups landed by chance within 100 miles of each other in Massachusetts.

Let's turn to the Massachusetts settlements next.  Massachusetts had a much harsher climate than Virginia, particularly in the wintertime.  Its settlers were motivated by religion, not money.  They were unhappy with the oppressions of the Church of England, feeling it was too much like the Catholic Church.  Two different groups of these people set out for North America.  The first group, the Separatists or Pilgrims, wanted to separate completely from the Church of England and establish a religiously pure community.  The second group consisted of more mainstream Puritans who wanted to purify the church from within, without leaving it.  Both groups were types of Puritans, and both groups landed by chance within 100 miles of each other in Massachusetts.