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Jan 1, 1000
First European Sets Foot on North American Soil
The first European in North America was Leif Eriksson the Lucky. Leif was a Norse explorer. When he heard about Herjulfsson's discovery he decided to find that land. He left with a crew of 35 and got to what is now called Newfoundland around the year 1000 AD. He called the land "Helulland", which means "land of flat stone". Image Citation:
http://listverse.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/8.jpeg -
Jan 1, 1001
Leif Eriksson Reaches Vinland
In the year 1001 AD they had reached Vinland (maybe around the southern part of Newfoundland). They settled there, but went back to Greenland in 1002 AD. The reason remains a mystery. Image Citation:
http://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/35/64/1356435_3ae91801.jpg -
Jan 1, 1497
John Cabot Discovers North America
At this date John Cabot landed near Newfoundland on the command of King Henry VII. When he got there, he claimed the land for England. Cabot explored the Canadian Coast line and named many of its islands. The mission's purpose was actually to find a way for boats to get across North America to Asia. Cabot was unsuccessful in finding this passage. Image Citation:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/JohnCabotPainting.jpg/220px-JohnCabotPainting.jpg -
Jan 1, 1541
Jacques Cartier Explores Canada
Jacques Cartier was a French explorer who tried to find the Northwest Passage (a passage that would go through North America, to Asia), but all of his attemps failed. Cartier tried going down the St. Laurence River, but again he was unsuccessful. He later tried to start a settelment in Quebec, but was abandoned after a very cold winter. Cartier also named Canada; Kanata, which means "village" in the Huron-Iroquois language. Image Citation:
http://www.emersonkent.com/images/jacques_cartier.jpg -
Jan 1, 1578
Martin Frobisher's Mining Company
In previous years, Frobisher found what he though was gold, so he went back to France to prove what he had found. In 1578 he came back with 15 ships. He sailed down the Hudson Strait and set up a mining company named the Cathay Company. His company became a failure, when they found out that what they thought was gold was actually pyrite (commonly known as Fool's Gold). Image Citation:
http://www.sciencephoto.com/image/151495/530wm/C0088806-Sir_Martin_Frobisher,_English_explorer-SPL.jpg -
Samuel De Champlain Explores New France
During this time, Samuel De Champlain explored the area which would become New France. He sailed up the St. Lawrence and the Saguenay River. He went back to France in 1603, but came back the following year, hopping to find a passage through North America to Asia. Image Citation:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_F40mBOHwDKw/S7VyWANyELI/AAAAAAAAAXs/FsJqu_B8zUs/s1600/ChamplainInGeorgianBay-JDKelly400.jpg -
Samuel De Champlian Explores Newfoundland
From 1604-1607 Samuel De Champlain mapped Newfoundland, while trying to find a passage through North America to Asia. If he would be the one to find this passage, he would be rewarded with much land and money, too. He also helped found a colony at Port Royal. Image Citation:
http://www.ameriquefrancaise.org/media-28/Carte_de_champlain.jpg -
Samuel De Champlain Founds Fur-Trading Company
From 1608- 1609 Samuel De Champlain lead 32 colonists to settle Quebec and with this, he hopped to establish a fur-trading company. Only 9 survived the bitter winter. Even though this tragedy took place, more colonists came the next summer. In 1609 Champlain also befriended the Huron Nation. Image Citaion:
http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/image-files/fur_trade.jpg -
Henry Hudson Attempts to Find the Northwest Passage
Hired by the Dutch East India Company, he was told to search for the Northwest Passage. On this voyage, he discovered the area which is now called New York City. He also discovered the Hudson River, the Hudson Strait, and the Hudson Bay. Even though he made many journeys, Hudson lacked success. Image Citation:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/HenryHudson.jpg/220px-HenryHudson.jpg -
Alexander Mackenzie Charts the Mackenzie River
Mackenzie began his expedition to chart the 1100 mile-long Mackenzie River. He started his voyage at Great Slave Lake and went until the mouth of the Mackenzie River. Image Citation:
http://new.bcgrizzlytours.com/images/1/mackenzie_map_00.jpg -
Alexander Mackenzie Maps Western Canada
In this year, Mackenzie started his trip to map western Canada. Upon finishing this journey, he became the first person to cross the continent north of Mexico (he did so twice). Image Citation:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Alexander_MacKenzie_by_Thomas_Lawrence_(c.1800).jpg/220px-Alexander_MacKenzie_by_Thomas_Lawrence_(c.1800).jpg -
Simon Fraser Explores British Colombia
Fraser explored the interior of British Colombia trying to find a trade route to the Pacific Ocean. He followed what he thought was the Colombia River to its mouth. This river was later called the Fraser River. Image Citation:
http://www.sfu.ca/archives/history-SFU/images/sf_small.jpg -
John Frankin Searches for Northwest Passage
John Franklin left England with a crew of 128 in hopes of finding the Northwest passage. Near the islands of Nunuvut his two ships, the Terror and the Erebus became icebound (frozen in ice). The hungry and freezing crew resorted to canabalism. The crew (and Franklin) probably died of starvation. Image Citation:
http://timetoeatthedogs.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/hms-investigator.jpg -
North America Spotted by Vikings
Bjarni Herjulfsson spotted North America when he got blown off course on a trip from Iceland to Greenland. Though he discovered this land first, he never stepped on North American soil. Image Citation:
http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/07_02/Vikings_468x364.jpg
.jpg/220px-Alexander_MacKenzie_by_Thomas_Lawrence_(c.1800).jpg){kind=link}
