American Colonization

The pursuit of global trade prompted 15^th century Europeans to venture west to discover new trade routes to the east. Europeans had been sailing around the tip of Africa to reach India and China.

There is evidence that the Vikings had sailed West in 1000 AD and had settlements in Greenland.

Columbus’ discovery of the American continent in 1492 and claiming it for Spain prompted and others began exploring. France began exploration in 1524 from Florida to Newfoundland and established settlements in Canada.

What started as trade settlements were destined to become land purchases and seizures. The American Indians were outgunned by the Europeans and many died from diseases brought by the Europeans. Wars of expansion between the Europeans and the Indians began in the 1500s and ended in 1870.

The prize was 16.43 million square miles of land from the North Pole to the tip of Argentina. 6.89 million square miles in South America. 9.54 million square miles in North America.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader