European Age of Discovery and Early Explorations

The European Age of Discovery began in 1095 with the First Crusades, which opened trade routes and sparked interest in eastern exploration. Technological advances like the compass and caravel ships made long-distance ocean travel possible. Portugal emerged as the first major exploring nation, establishing trading ports along Africa's coast.

Portuguese explorers like Henry the Navigator and Vasco da Gama established crucial trade routes to India and Brazil. Spain soon followed, funding Columbus's 1492 voyage that initiated sustained contact between Europe and the Americas. Spanish conquistadors like Hernán Cortés and Francisco Pizarro led military expeditions resulting in the conquest of the Aztec and Inca empires.

Highlight: The European exploration impact on native americans apush was profound, introducing new diseases, technologies, and social systems that forever changed indigenous societies.

The Treaty of Tordesillas (1494) divided the New World between Spain and Portugal, though other European powers would soon challenge this arrangement. The Columbian Exchange began, transforming both hemispheres through the transfer of crops, animals, diseases, and cultural practices.

Early Colonial Settlements and Native American Relations (1491-1607)

The establishment of early colonial settlements marked a pivotal period in American history, particularly regarding interactions between European settlers and Native American tribes. The 1491 to 1607 APUSH timeline showcases crucial developments in early American colonization, beginning with the Roanoke Island Settlement in 1584. This settlement, led by Raleigh and documented by John White, ultimately became known as the "Lost Colony" after its mysterious disappearance.

Definition: The Roanoke Settlement was England's first attempt at establishing a permanent presence in North America, though it ended in failure with the entire colony vanishing and leaving only the word "CROATOAN" carved into a fence post.

The relationship between European explorers and Native Americans was complex and often tragic. European exploration impact on native americans apush materials highlight how initial contact led to devastating consequences for indigenous populations. Disease, displacement, and cultural conflicts characterized these early interactions, while European views of Native Americans often reflected deep cultural misunderstandings and prejudices.

Joint-stock companies played a crucial role in funding colonial ventures, with the Virginia-London Company and Plymouth Company leading these efforts. King James I's support for New World settlement was partially driven by England's overpopulation crisis, caused by the Enclosure Movement that displaced small farmers.

Highlight: The establishment of Jamestown in 1607 marked England's first successful permanent colony in North America, though it faced severe challenges including "the starving time" when only 38 of 400 settlers survived the winter of 1607-1608.

Colonial Resistance and Social Movements

Resistance to slavery took multiple forms in colonial America. Overt resistance included direct actions like slave revolts, while covert resistance manifested through methods like sabotage and escape attempts. These acts of resistance contributed to ongoing tensions that would eventually factor into the Civil War and later calls for reparations.

Social upheaval wasn't limited to slavery resistance. Leisler's Rebellion in 1680s New York exemplified class tensions, as merchant Jacob Leisler led poor farmers in uprising against wealthy landowners - ultimately resulting in his execution. Religious discourse also reflected social tensions, with Jeremiads emerging as powerful Puritan sermons that warned of divine punishment for social and moral decline.

Highlight: The Half-Way Covenant represented a significant shift in colonial religious practice, attempting to address declining piety by offering partial church membership. This compromise ultimately contributed to the conditions that sparked the Great Awakening.

Colonial society's religious and social structures were deeply interconnected. The Anglican Church maintained official status in southern colonies while operating alongside Presbyterian and Congregational denominations. These religious institutions played crucial roles in shaping colonial social order, though their influence varied by region and over time as religious fervor fluctuated.