1. Bell Ringer
• Come in, get your Social Studies Notebook and
open to page 4.
• Put the date at the top and label the page
European Exploration (Don’t forget to list
European Exploration in your table of contents)
• Do the bell ringer at the top of the page. Leave
room for notes on the rest of the page.
• Create and acrostic poem using the word
EXPLORER. Use the words or phase for each letter
to tell something you think you know about the
topic

2. European Exploration of North
America
LEQ: Why did the Europeans first
explore North America and what
were the consequences

3. Important Vocabulary
• On page 4 after your Bell Ringer use your book
to write the word and the definition of:
– Treaty of Tordesillas
– Columbian Exchange

4. Spanish Colonization
Spanish conquistadors came to the Americas in search of wealth,
adventure, and personal glory. Explorers Hernándo Cortés and
Francisco Pizarro conquered and looted the prosperous Aztec
and Inca civilizations. The Spanish also explored much of the
southeastern portion of what is now the United States and
established a successful port named St. Augustine in Florida.
The Spanish sent missionaries to convert Native Americans to
Catholicism. Missionaries established small settlements called
missions where they taught Native Americans. However, some
missionaries forced Native Americans into labor and overworked
them. Millions of Native Americans lied under Spanish rule. As
large numbers of Native Americans began to die, the Spanish
began to buy slaves from African chiefs along the West African
coast and ship them to the Americas. The arrival of the Spanish
also led to the exchange of plants, animals, and disease
between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. This movement
of living things is known as the Columbian Exchange.

5. French Colonization
Even though the pope agreed that Spain and Portugal should
divide the world between them. France refused to accept such an
arrangement. Many French explorers were not interested in the
new lands. Instead, they wanted to find a northwest passage round
or though North America that would lead them to Asia.
Giovanni da Verrazano led one of these expedition. As he explored
the ragged eastern coastline of North America. Verrazano believed
that the Pacific Ocean lay no far west of the North Carolina coast.
During his expedition Verrazano and his crew also interacted with
various Native American groups.
Other French explores such as Jean Ribaut and Rene de
Laudonniere, tried to take control of Florida from the Spanish.
Their settlements failed. However, the French still contributed to
the exchange of plants, animals and diseases between Europe and
the Americas known as the Columbian Exchange.

6. Reasons for Exploration
Religion Politics
Economical Geography
Reasons for
Explorations

7. Try it on your own!
• With your group
– Fill in the politics and geography causes and
Effects sections of your web

8. Summerzing
• Using your notes and what you learned today
at the bottom of your page- do this on your
own
• Write at least a 3 sentence paragraph
Explaining why the Europeans began exploring
North America.

9. Review
• Work with your group:
– On page 54 do number #14, 19, 20 and 27. Write
the question and answer in complete sentence.
Turn in to your periods bin, please put all group
members names on it