Discovery and Conquest of the New World

By Alex K
  • Oct 5, 1492

    Columbus Sails to the New World

    Columbus sailed west across the Atlantic in search of another trade route to Asia. He wound up landing in the Caribbean, and he mistook it for East Indies. Columbus was looking for gold, but did not find any. He claimed all the land he explored for Spain. After his first trip he went on three more to colonize on behalf of Spain.
  • Oct 5, 1511

    African Slaves Arrive in the Americas

    Africans are shipped to the Americas to be used as slaves. Forty percent of the slaves are sent to Brazil. The population in Africa decreases, and a lot of slaves die on the boats over to America due to cruel conditions.
  • Oct 5, 1521

    Hernando Cortés Conquers the Aztecs

    The Spanish explorer Hernando Cortés, also known as a conquistador, took over the Aztec empire in searcch of gold. The conquistadors inadvertantly brought diseases to the Aztecs killing hundreds of thousands.
  • Oct 5, 1533

    Francisco Pizarro Conquers the Incans

    Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizzaro conquered the Incan Empire. He was able to win because the conquistadors brought guns, germs, and steel. The Europeans had guns, which were frightening to the Incans because they had not seen or heard them before. Also, the Incans had no immunity to the diseases like smallpox and measles brough over by the Spanish, and many died as a result. Finally, the Incans only had inferior bronze weapons.

  • Jamestown is Founded by the English

    London investors received a charter from King James to found a colony in North America. They named it Jamestown after him. The first few years were disastrous because the colonists were hoping to find gold and not preparing adequately to live there. After a few years they discovered tobacco, and it became a profitable cash crop.

  • Plymouth is Founded by the English

    Plymouth colony was founded by a group of English people called the Pilgrims. They were looking for religious freedom in this new land. In England they had been perseuted for thier religious views because they differed from the Anglican Church. Their colony also had a difficult start because the Pilgrims did not anticipate the harsh winter and were unprepared. They learned to farm and build warmer homes, to maintain their colony.

  • The French and Indian War is Ended

    As the French and English expanded their colonies in North America, they began to interfere with each other. They had a dispute over land in the Ohio Valley, and this became known as the French and Indian War. England and France battled here and in Europe, seeking supremacy in Europe, West Indies, and India. The British won in 1763, and the French surrendered their North American land. Britain then controlled the eastern half of North America.