APUSH Chapter 2 - The Contest for North America
Saturday, June 28, 2025 3:25 PM
• Despite the rapid conquest of South America, Northern American territory remained largely uncolonized,
at least until the British, French, and Dutch came.
• French Colonization:
○ Originally, France was too busy dealing with conflict within the country between Catholics and
Protestants to explore and journey over to the New World.
○ After the Edict of Nantes, the French were able to complete some successful adventures into the
new world, setting up their main colony in Québec, Canada.
§ Modern day Canada became known as "New France" due to the rapid colonization of the
area.
○ France soon became a major player in the lucrative fur trade, trading with indigenous peoples and
eventually Europeans (the main skins traded were beaver skins, as they were numerously
abundant in the area).
○ Along with this fur trade, some French explorers were more interested in empire and land, pushing
so far as the Rocky Mountains in America to prevent English and Spanish advancement on territory
in claims.
§ Despite these "claims" on land, the actual amount of land settled into by the French was
rather small, resulting in a less powerful empire than the Spanish mainly focused on trade.
• Spanish in North America:
○ Took over modern day Florida in the East
○ Pushed north into Western America "New Spain"
• English Colonization:
○ Similar to France, the Protestant Reformation caused issues within the British Empire as they
struggled to complete with the ever-expanding Spanish regime.
○ England's first attempt to colonize the new world took place on Roanoke Island in modern day
North Carolina.
§ This attempt at colonization failed and was eventually abandoned
○ After Roanoke Island, the British were attacked by the Spanish in hopes that the Spaniards would
conquer their growing rivals.
The British fought back and defeated the *The Spanish Empire did not actually
§ Spanish Armada, marking the beginning of the collapse for many more centuries, but
downfall of the Spanish*. England had weakened Spain.
○ As the Spanish were now weakened, England's population began to see a large increase, and, with
the emergence of the Joint-Stock Company, where investors could pool capital to limit risk of
investment, England was ready to try to colonize some of the New World.
○ The Virginia Company of London received a charter from King James I to settle the new world, and
that they did. With the settlement of Jamestown in the Chesapeake Bay area, Britain set up it's
first proper settlement in the New World.
§ Virginia originally struggled, but thanks to the leadership of Captain John Smith, was able to
get into shape (somewhat).
□ Smith implemented a policy that "He who shall not work shall not eat."
□ Despite this leadership and structure now brought to the colony, starvation occurred
in droves and colonists often died.
○ While the French had (somewhat) peaceful interactions with Native Peoples in the Americas, the
British and indigenous peoples began a rather hostile relationship that lead to multiple conflicts in
the Chesapeake Bay.
§ Starvation and a lack of food for the English often led to raids on Indian camps for rations
and provisions, increasing tension.
○ The tension between the two sides led to the First Anglo-Powhatan War, ended by the marriage
between Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
§ Despite this, a Second Anglo-Powhatan War occurred, in which the Indians were once more
defeated by the English due to disorganization and disease brought by the British.
• Dutch Involvement in the Americas:
The Dutch West India Company was established to participate in the Fur Trade in North America as
Saturday, June 28, 2025 3:25 PM
• Despite the rapid conquest of South America, Northern American territory remained largely uncolonized,
at least until the British, French, and Dutch came.
• French Colonization:
○ Originally, France was too busy dealing with conflict within the country between Catholics and
Protestants to explore and journey over to the New World.
○ After the Edict of Nantes, the French were able to complete some successful adventures into the
new world, setting up their main colony in Québec, Canada.
§ Modern day Canada became known as "New France" due to the rapid colonization of the
area.
○ France soon became a major player in the lucrative fur trade, trading with indigenous peoples and
eventually Europeans (the main skins traded were beaver skins, as they were numerously
abundant in the area).
○ Along with this fur trade, some French explorers were more interested in empire and land, pushing
so far as the Rocky Mountains in America to prevent English and Spanish advancement on territory
in claims.
§ Despite these "claims" on land, the actual amount of land settled into by the French was
rather small, resulting in a less powerful empire than the Spanish mainly focused on trade.
• Spanish in North America:
○ Took over modern day Florida in the East
○ Pushed north into Western America "New Spain"
• English Colonization:
○ Similar to France, the Protestant Reformation caused issues within the British Empire as they
struggled to complete with the ever-expanding Spanish regime.
○ England's first attempt to colonize the new world took place on Roanoke Island in modern day
North Carolina.
§ This attempt at colonization failed and was eventually abandoned
○ After Roanoke Island, the British were attacked by the Spanish in hopes that the Spaniards would
conquer their growing rivals.
The British fought back and defeated the *The Spanish Empire did not actually
§ Spanish Armada, marking the beginning of the collapse for many more centuries, but
downfall of the Spanish*. England had weakened Spain.
○ As the Spanish were now weakened, England's population began to see a large increase, and, with
the emergence of the Joint-Stock Company, where investors could pool capital to limit risk of
investment, England was ready to try to colonize some of the New World.
○ The Virginia Company of London received a charter from King James I to settle the new world, and
that they did. With the settlement of Jamestown in the Chesapeake Bay area, Britain set up it's
first proper settlement in the New World.
§ Virginia originally struggled, but thanks to the leadership of Captain John Smith, was able to
get into shape (somewhat).
□ Smith implemented a policy that "He who shall not work shall not eat."
□ Despite this leadership and structure now brought to the colony, starvation occurred
in droves and colonists often died.
○ While the French had (somewhat) peaceful interactions with Native Peoples in the Americas, the
British and indigenous peoples began a rather hostile relationship that lead to multiple conflicts in
the Chesapeake Bay.
§ Starvation and a lack of food for the English often led to raids on Indian camps for rations
and provisions, increasing tension.
○ The tension between the two sides led to the First Anglo-Powhatan War, ended by the marriage
between Pocahontas and John Rolfe.
§ Despite this, a Second Anglo-Powhatan War occurred, in which the Indians were once more
defeated by the English due to disorganization and disease brought by the British.
• Dutch Involvement in the Americas:
The Dutch West India Company was established to participate in the Fur Trade in North America as
