1. Why were explorers looking for a water route across North
America? Did they find it?

In the 1500s and 1600s, explorers looked for a Northwest Passage through North America to Asia. They wanted a fast way to bring back riches from Asia. In 1497, the English king sent John Cabot to look for the passage. Cabot sailed to Canada, but he only found a rich fishing area.

Explanation:

Searching for a Passage to Asia

In the 1500s and 1600s, explorers looked for a Northwest

Passage through North America to Asia. They wanted a fast

way to bring back riches from Asia. In 1497, the English king

sent John Cabot to look for the passage. Cabot sailed to

Canada, but he only found a rich fishing area. The French

king also sent sailors to look for the passage. They did not

find it, but they explored new lands.

Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence River in

Canada. Giovanni da Verrazano explored the east coast of

North America. Samuel de Champlain traveled up the St.

Lawrence River. He started a fur-trading post called

Quebec. Quebec was the first permanent French settlement

in North America.

In 1606, a Dutch trading company sent Henry Hudson to

find the passage. Hudson sailed up what is now the Hudson

River in New York. The Dutch claimed the land in the areas

Hudson explored. In 1610, Hudson explored for the English.

He found what is now Hudson Bay in Canada. England

claimed the land around Hudson Bay. None of the explorers

found a Northwest Passage, but they did find lands with

forests, rivers, and wildlife.

Spain and England

King Philip of Spain was angry with England. An English sea

captain,

The king was also angry because

In 1588, the king ordered an armada of 130 warships to

attack England. Francis Drake was ready for the invasion. The

English ships sank many of the Spanish ships and defeated

the Spanish Armada. Then they used their new power to claim

more land in the Americas.

wanted England to be Catholic again.

Catholic Church and became Protestant. King Philip wanted

had religious differences. England broke away from the

Spain’s power in the Americas. Spain and England also had

England was a threat to

took the gold and silver. He gave it to the Queen of England.

Francis Drake, attacked many Spanish ships and