Starter Question: Red, Blue, Green-Which country represents their colony?

1. Starter Question: Red, Blue, Green-Which country represents their colony?

2. Why Colonize? • The Age of Exploration starts because of the strong desire by the rulers/traders of Europe to get the resources the do not have in their part of Europe. • Spain, Portugal, England, France all want the resources (spices, food, silk, metals, etc) from parts of Asia. These items were discovered thanks to travelers who were part of the Crusades. • Question: What can we do to profit from these trade routes, but not deal with Muslims (land) and Italy (water) who had gained control of these routes?

3. The Answer • Look for new ways to get to these parts of the world without having to pay the high taxes, and deal with the dangers that are involved. • Ship building, advancements in technology, proper training became important steps leading up to the Age of Exploration.

4. Colonizing the New World • At first explorers set out because of their desire to see what their little world looks like. They soon realized it was much BIGGER than they imagined. • Soon, kings and queens of the major countries in Western Europe realized that newly discovered areas had some really exotic and interesting resources. $$$ • Explorers now were encouraged not only to map what they found, but claim the newly discovered lands (and resources) for the people that pay them-in most cases their monarchs.

5. Spain Gets Rich! • The Spanish set out to not only colonize, but to Christianize, and to conquer. • Inca and Aztec Empires fall to Spain in the 1500’s. Spain becomes incredibly wealthy. What to do with your wealth? Build large armies and navies and grow your empire.

6. British Colonies • Other countries (England/France) realize that they need to expand their control of lands and make money in order to keep up with Spain. • Although finding wealth was important for Britain they were seeking other things too. • Overpopulation and religious persecution were two reasons to grow. The British crown wanted to expand it’s power, but give it’s people opportunities and land.

7. Population Boom! • By the year 1700 the population in the colonies was 250,000. By 1775 it had grown to 2,500,000! • Getting to America was not cheap. In the Middle and New England Colonies many people came over as indentured servants. • By 1790 19% of the population in the Southern Colonies was made up of Slave Labor.

8. By 1770’s the Colonies Are Looking to Expand • People need/want to expand their colonies. • The problem? Mountain range (Appalachians), French/Spanish lands, Native Americans, the fear of the unknown and their own government.

9. Proclamation Line Of 1763 • The British colonists had just won a major 7 year battle with France-The French and Indian War. • As a result, many colonists thought the next step was to move west. • They were wrong! In 1763 King George III issued his Royal Law that made it illegal for British colonists to move past the Appalachian Mountains.

10. Bummer. What would you do? • This made many colonists upset.