COMING TO AMERICA

Why the Spanish wanted to come to TEXAS(Gold, God, Glory) Spain’s rulers

wanted to Expand their empire Take Christianity to

the New World Gain the riches and

lands of the Americas

Vocab

Spices- Asian goods that preserve and improve food

Conquistadors- Spanish soldiers who sought gold, god and glory

Land routes- adds to the cost of trading goods

Columbus Sails to America Europeans wanted trade goods from Asia and would

pay a high price for spices In the 1400s silks and other Asian goods came by

means of land routes, which added to the cost Europeans wanted to find an all-water route to Asia An Italian sailor named Christopher Columbus

believed he could reach Asia by sailing west. Spain would finance the trip and give Columbus three

ships

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The Voyage On August 3, 1492, Columbus set sail for Asia On October 12, Columbus first landed on an island in

what is now the Bahamas Columbus believed that he had reached the Indies and

called the people there Indians

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Columbus

Goals Find an all water trade route to Asia Italian sailor who wanted to reach Asia by sailing west

Results Queen Isabella will support his expedition He will first land on the Bahamas and he thinks that

he has landed in Asia But he quickly found out that he had hit North

America Therefore his expedition was a failure

Conquistadors Conquistadors were

Spanish soldiers and adventurers in search of gold, glory, and land

They wore suits of armor and steel helmets, rode mighty horses, and armed themselves with swords and muskets

The Spanish soon conquered many of the Caribbean Islands

Now they turned to the American mainland

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Hernan Cortes In 1519 conquistodor

Hernán Cortés sailed from Spanish Cuba to the eastern coast of what is now Mexico

They met many Mexican Indians and were told about a powerful and wealthy Aztec Empire led by Moctezuma

Cortés decided to find Moctezuma “wherever he might be…..take him alive in chains or make him subject to Spain”

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Cortés and the Aztec To make sure his soldiers

would not retreat, Cortés set his ships on fire.

He was dedicated and wanted victory at any cost

Cortés would need a lot of help since the Aztec had conquered a vast area and ruled several million people.

And Indian woman named Malintzin helped Cortés as a guide and interpreter.

With her help Cortés gained allied among the Aztec subjects and thousands joined him Do

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Fight for the Aztec Empire Cortés and his army

marched toward Tenochtitlán the Aztec capital

When they arrived the marveled at the city

Moctezuma gave Cortés peace offerings

But Cortés took Moctezuma captive and began planning on how to conquer the Aztec

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Fighting Breaks Out Before Cortés was

prepared the Aztec attacked the Spanish fled the city in June 1520

Cortés began planning a new assault and convinced more Indians to join him

His men built boats armed with canons

In May 1521, the Spanish and their Indian allies attacked Tenochtitlán

After and long and brutal fight, they defeated the Aztec in August 1521

Many Aztec were killed or enslaved and Tenochtitlán lay in ruins

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Aftermath Spain had captured the

great wealth and land of the Aztec Empire

They sent the treasures over to Spain

On top of the ruins of the Aztec capital Cortés built Mexico City

Mexico City became the capital of New Spain

Spanish explorations increased

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Hernan Cortes

Goals Find gold and conquer central America

Results Local Indians tell him about the Aztec Empire He captures Montezuma, the leader of the

Aztecs He captures Tenochtitlan, the capital of the

Aztec Empire, and defeats the Aztecs He sends much of the Aztec gold and treasure

back to Spain His expedition and war was a success.

Journal #1

You are starting an expedition to explore Texas….

Tell me What you hope to find in Texas? What are you taking with you? Reasons why you think you will be

successful.