Explorers Study Guide
Christopher Columbus –
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Sailed under the sponsorship of Spain
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Was born in Italy
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Made 4 voyages to the new world
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Had 3 ships on his first voyage in 1492 – the Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria
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Is credited for exploring San Salvador in the Bahamas
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Searching for a shorter route to the Indies
Juan Ponce de Leon –
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Sailed under the sponsorship of Spain
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Sailed to the Bahamas on one of Columbus’ ships
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Was searching for the Fountain of Youth, land and gold
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Claimed land at St. Augustine for Spain
Jacques Cartier –
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Sailed under the sponsorship of France
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Was searching for the Northwest Passage – a northern route to the East Indies
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Explored the area on the St. Lawrence River from Newfoundland to Montreal in
Canada
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Gave France claim to land in Quebec, Canada
Christopher Newport –
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Sailed under the sponsorship of England
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Was searching for land in the New World
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Explored the area of the James River and claimed land in Jamestown, VA
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Delivered a group of settlers to Jamestown
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Sailed on 3 ships – Godspeed, Discovery and Susan Constant
Jamestown –
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Was settled by colonists from England in 1608
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100 men were brought to start the settlement
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John Smith was the leader
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Chief Powhatan and his daughter Pocahontas helped the settlers survive
Plymouth –
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Settled by the Pilgrims from England in 1620
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100 men, women and children
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Were searching for religious freedom
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Sailed on the Mayflower
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Set up the first form of government called the Mayflower Compact – which all 41
men signed
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The Native Americans helped them survive the first winter
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Celebrated the first Thanksgiving after their first harvest
Impact of Exploration
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Europeans brought new diseases that wiped out many of the Natives.
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Europeans claimed land that the Natives lived on and forced the Natives to
relocate.