The Europeans Come to North America 4

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Giovanni da VerrazanoVerrazano (1485 –1528) was an Italianwho sailed for Francein search of theNorthwest Passage.He explored muchof the eastern coastof North America, all the way up toNewfoundland, which he claimed forFrance. He noted in a letter to his kingthat colonization would be difficultbecause of the Aboriginal peoplesliving along the coast. He died at thehands of the Spaniards, who hangedhim for piracy. Some historians thinkJacques Cartier travelled with him toNewfoundland. We know that Cartierfollowed up Verrazano’s explorationswith his own ship in 1534.Martin FrobisherFrobisher (1535– 1594),who first went to seaat the age of nine,sailed for England.He travelled to NorthAmerica in searchof the NorthwestPassage, but he was sidetracked in theArctic at Baffin Island by what he thoughtwas gold. He filled his ships with tons ofgold-speckled rock and headed back toEngland. There, he found out that whathe thought was gold was actually ironpyrite, a worthless rock also known as“fool’s gold.” Many of his backers werefinancially ruined, and the rock waseventually used for gravel.Frobisher died after being wounded ina battle against Spain, and his internalorgans were buried separately fromthe rest of his body. No one knowsthe reason for this.Henry HudsonSir Francis DrakeDrake (1540 – 1596)sailed for England.In England he wasregarded as a hero forhis explorations, butthe Spaniards sawhim as a pirate anddespised him. Drakefirst went to sea as a cabin boy when hewas about 13 years old. Although theexplorer Ferdinand Magellan is creditedwith being the first person to sail all theway around the world, Sir Francis Drakewas the first to complete the trip and live.(Magellan died en route.) In 1580, he wasknighted by Queen Elizabeth I.Hudson (1565 – 1611)sailed under bothNetherlands’ andEngland’s flags.He explored a largebody of water, nowcalled Hudson Bay,thinking that he had found the NorthwestPassage. He and his crew spent thewinter in Hudson Bay. When springarrived and the ice melted, his crewwanted to return to Europe. Hudson,however, was determined to exploremore of the large bay. His crew, tiredof searching for the passage to theEast, mutinied. Hudson, his son, anda few loyal crewmen were last seenalive in a small boat drifting on thebay. The mutineers returned to England.Several of them later returned forfurther explorations.The Europeans Come to North America 63
Figure 4.14 Look at a map of presentdayNorth America, and compare itwith this map. In 1550, mapmakersdid not have instruments (such assatellite images) that present-daymapmakers have to help them drawmaps. The person who made this mapbelieved North America was verynarrow. Like many people of the day,the mapmaker probably thoughtNorth America would be easy to crossto reach the riches of the Orient.Cartier and Donnacona –Friends and Enemies?In 1534, Jacques Cartier (1493–1557) setsail from St. Malo, France. His voyage, paidfor by the king of France, was “to discovercertain islands and lands where it is saidthat a great quantity of gold, and otherprecious things, are to be found.” He wasalso determined to find a Northwest Passageto Asia. Jacques Cartier gets credit as thefirst European to enter (and name) theSt. Lawrence River.Cartier made three voyages to NorthAmerica. He explored the northeast coast ofNorth America, sailed up the St. LawrenceRiver to Hochelaga (called Montreal today),and tried to establish a colony, which hecalled Charlesbourg-Royal, between Stadacona(today’s Quebec City) and Hochelaga.On his first voyage in 1534, Cartier sailedinto Gaspé Bay. There, he met severalhundred Aboriginal people. Relations startedout well. However, when Cartier erecteda nine-metre-high cross (a symbol ofChristianity) and claimed the area for France,Donnacona, leader of the Wendat, becamesuspicious. As Cartier prepared his returnvoyage, he kidnapped Donnacona’s sonsDomagaya and Taignoagny and broughtthem back to France for the winter. Cartierwanted to prove to people in France thathe had found new lands and peoples. Healso wanted his captives to learn to speakFrench, so they could act as interpreters.He promised Donnacona he would bringhis sons back the following year.On Cartier’s second trip, in 1535, heentered the St. Lawrence River for thefirst time. He then sailed to the village ofStadacona, where Donnacona and his sonswere reunited. Cartier also went fartherupriver to Hochelaga.As it was getting late in the season,Cartier decided to stay the winter. He andhis men were ill-prepared for the long, cold64 People and Stories of Canada to 1867 • Chapter 4
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Page 3 and 4: The Norse in North AmericaAs early
Page 5: L’Anse aux MeadowsFor a long time
Page 8 and 9: Figure 4.9 This painting, The Ambas
Page 10: gave up on their search for the Nor

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