Europeans Compete in North America

How did conflicts in Europe spur exploration in North America/ Conflict between the countries of Europe

caused them all the explore and colonize. Better trade routes and foreign colonies =

wealth and power and each wanted to be more powerful than the other

Gold from colonies = $ to pay for wars Conflicts meant that trade between European

countries was unreliable. They couldn’t count on each other for goods/resources. Looked to colonies for these goods.

European ConflictsReligious Conflict

Protestant Reformation Men like Martin Luther and

John Calvin believed and spoke publicly that the Catholic Church was on the wrong track.

Eventually many European countries split with the Catholic church and set up Protestant churches

Catholic vs. Protestant

Economic Conflict

Inflamed by religious conflict

Constant war and shifting of alliances

European countries believed they couldn’t count on their neighboring countries for trade

Began to look elsewhere

Solution to economic problems? Mercantilism: colonies exist to make the

home country more wealthy and powerful.

In stead of trading with other (unreliable) European countries we can get what we need from colonies

Example: Spain required that 1/5 of all gold found would be sent to the king.

Queen Elizabeth of England (Protestant) vs. King Phillip of Spain (Catholic)

Phillip wanted to make England a Catholic country again.

Elizabeth was a Protestant England was raiding Spanish ships and

taking gold that had come from America Phillip sent powerful navy known as the

Spanish Armada Smaller, faster English ships won the

battle by sinking ½ of the Armada

What changed? Spain greatly weakened especially on

the seas Allows for countries like England and

France to establish colonies in America European conflict spreads to America

What is the Northwest Passage, and what did explorers eventually discover about it?

NW Passage: sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific that passed through or around NA.

Didn’t exist…until recently