-
Dec 31, 1000
Norse Explorers land in North America.
- Norse explorer Bjarni accidently discovers Atlantic America after being blown off course from Greenland, doesn't land in North America however.
- When explorer Leif returned to Greenland following his expedition, he arose interest in locals to explore further south
- The explorer Thorfinn led the most ambitious expedition, including the migration of women and livestock.
- The settlement was abandoned after two-three years because of hostilities with the local Natives.
-
Period: Dec 31, 1000 to
1000 CE- 1608 CE
-
Jun 24, 1497
John Cabot, European settlers arrive in North America.
- Cabot landed on the norhtern coast of Newfoundland, claiming the land for England, Christianity and the King.
- Cabot's discovery of the Grand Banks caused a steady stream of Basque, Portugese and English fishers to the shores of Newfoundland.
- Cabot's contact with the local Beothuk was generally misunderstood and violent and many deaths.
- Unlike Inuit's in the north who shared an interest of whaling, Beothuk's had trouble finding a reason to bond with the European settlers.
-
Jan 1, 1500
1500- European diseases ravish Native population.
- Aboriginal lifestyle was polar opposite to the Settlers lifestyle. Native's were hunter-gatherers. Settlers were technological advanced.
- European brought smallpox, influenza, diphteria, typhus, tuberculosis and mumps over to North America.
- These diseases raged through the Native population. 90-93 percent of Aboriginal's were killed by foreign diseases.
- The spread of disease caused a sense of distrust amongst the aborginals and the early European settlers.
-
May 10, 1534
Cartier and the French settle in North America (
- Cartier's original goal was to find passage to Asia to find gold.
- He successfully held meetings with three different groups of Aboriginal people, no one was injured or killed.
- Speculation that Cartier took advantage of the Aborginal's trust, hunting their wildlife and took Iroquois aboriginals hostage back to France
- Cartier refused to learn to understand the Iroquois political and social system
- After settling along the St. Lawrence, Cartier's settlers spread European diseases.
-
May 23, 1541
Cartier's final voyage to Canada.
- For his final voyage to the new world, Cartier brought with him 5 ships stocked with soldiers, convicts, farm animals and adventurers.
- A guerilla war between the angered Iroquois and Cartier occured during the winter of 1541-42.
- Anyone who ventured outside the fort in Cap Rouge was killed. 35 Frenchmen died by the end of winter.
- Cartier had left Canada by the spring of 1542, and never returned.
-
Samuel de Champlain establishes Quebec City
- Champlain established three main buildings on the shore of the "point of Quebec".
- The original intention of the settlement of Quebec was to gain an advantage in the fur trade.
- While settling Quebec city, an assassination plot arose to eliminate Champlain It was defeated.
- The harsh winter took a toll on Champlains group of settlers. Only 8 of the 28 survived.
