Essential Question Why did the Spanish and French build colonies in the Americas? The Migration to America Land Bridge to America Look at the map on pages 18 and 19 of our text and answer the following questions. What geographical event made the sea level drop to reveal the land bridge between Asia and America? What other ways might settlers have made their way to America? Bering Strait Separates Alaska from Siberia Dry land during the last Ice Age This land bridge is known as Beringia Beringia People crossed by foot or by boat from the continent of Asia Nomads moved continually from place to place Early Americans Mesoamerica Mexico, Central America Agricultural Revolution maize (corn), squash, peppers, beans First permanent villages Mesoamerica Europeans in North America Name the three European groups which had the greatest impact on settling North America: The Spanish and French Build Empires Hernan Cortes Hernan Cortes led an expedition to the Yucatan Peninsula Hernan Cortes led an expedition to the Yucatan Peninsula Purpose = find Indians to work Cuban farms and mines Purpose = find Indians to work Cuban farms and mines 550 men, 11 ships 550 men, 11 ships Cortes in Mexico 1519 Cortes landed in the Yucatan Peninsula 1519 Cortes landed in the Yucatan Peninsula Montezuma led the Aztec Empire Montezuma led the Aztec Empire Quote, Aztec writer While the Spaniards were in Tlaxcala, a great plague broke out here in Tenochtitlan... Sores erupted on our faces and our bellies; we were covered with agonizing sores from head to foot. The illness was so dreadful that no one could walk or move... If they did move their bodies, they screamed with pain. Spanish Victory Cortes ordered a new city Mexico City Cortes ordered a new city Mexico City Capital of the Spanish colony of New Spain Capital of the Spanish colony of New Spain Northern Spanish Exploration Spanish Missions of Georgia Southwest Settlements Failure to find gold, wealth Failure to find gold, wealth 1598 settlers migrated north of the Rio Grande into New Mexico 1598 settlers migrated north of the Rio Grande into New Mexico Capital city Santa Fe ( ) Capital city Santa Fe ( ) Mining and Ranching Spanish discovered silver Spanish discovered silver Cattle ranches (haciendas) Cattle ranches (haciendas) Native Americans in New Spain Native Americans paid taxes Native Americans paid taxes Also worked as slaves in mines Also worked as slaves in mines Most died Most died Jacques Cartier First trip in 1534 for the French Empire First trip in 1534 for the French Empire Mapped the St. Lawrence River Mapped the St. Lawrence River St. Lawrence River New France French fished off the North American coastline French fished off the North American coastline Fur became fashionable in Europe Fur became fashionable in Europe Samuel de Champlain 1608 founded the city of Quebec 1608 founded the city of Quebec Capital of New France Capital of New France Life in New France Colony grew slowly Colony grew slowly Coureurs de bois fur traders lived among the Native Americans Coureurs de bois fur traders lived among the Native Americans Jesuit missionaries Jesuit missionaries French Explorers Joliet and Marquette explored the Mississippi River Joliet and Marquette explored the Mississippi River La Salle followed the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico La Salle followed the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico Settling Louisiana Desire to ship furs down the Mississippi to the Gulf Desire to ship furs down the Mississippi to the Gulf Settlements such as New Orleans Settlements such as New Orleans Labor intensive crops (sugar, rice, indigo) required slave labor Labor intensive crops (sugar, rice, indigo) required slave labor French and Spanish Settlements France vs. Spain Spanish founded St. Augustine in Florida in 1565 to protect their territory Spanish founded St. Augustine in Florida in 1565 to protect their territory 1690 established first Spanish town in eastern Texas 1690 established first Spanish town in eastern Texas