European Colonization in the Americas

Which European country established the first permanent settlement in the Americas at St. Augustine, Florida in 1565?

• England

• Spain

• France

• Portugal

What was the main motivation for European nations to explore and colonize the Americas?

• To escape religious persecution

• To find new trade routes and wealth

• To learn new languages

• To spread democracy

The Columbian Exchange refers to:

• The trade of gold between Europe and Africa

• The transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds

• The exchange of land between European countries

• The sharing of religious beliefs

Which of the following was a major effect of European colonization on Native American populations?

• Rapid population growth

• Introduction of new technologies

• Spread of deadly diseases

• Increase in native land ownership

Which European country established colonies in present-day Canada and along the Mississippi River?

• Spain

• England

• France

• Netherlands

What was the primary economic activity in the Spanish colonies of Central and South America?

• Fur trading

• Gold and silver mining

• Shipbuilding

• Fishing

Who conquered the Aztec Empire for Spain in the early 1500s?

• Francisco Pizarro

• Hernán Cortés

• Vasco da Gama

• Samuel de Champlain

Which of the following best describes the encomienda system?

• A system of trade between Europe and Asia

• A method of shipbuilding

• A labor system that granted colonists the right to demand labor from Native Americans

• A religious mission to convert Africans

Which English colony was the first permanent settlement in North America?

• Plymouth

• Roanoke

• Jamestown

• New Amsterdam

What was the main reason the French established settlements in North America?

• To find gold and silver

• To trade furs with Native Americans

• To grow tobacco

• To escape religious persecution