European colonization of the Americas

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/european-colonization-of-the-americas

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is European colonization of the Americas?Establishment of predominant religions, political boundaries, and languages in the Western Hemisphere
2. What is the period of major colonization?Primarily late 15th century to early 19th century
3. What is the key drivers of exploration?Search for new trade routes, economic gain, and geopolitical power
4. Why did Europeans want to sail to the Americas?They sought new trade routes to Asia, more wealth, power, and ways to spread their religions.
5. Who was the first European to discover the Americas?Christopher Columbus sailed in 1492 and found the New World.

Age of Discovery: A historical period characterized by European exploration and the mapping of global territories.
Treaty of Tordesillas: An agreement dividing newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain.
Settler Colonialism: A form of colonialism where settlers establish permanent societies and displace Indigenous populations.