Europeans Explore Texas Raise your hand if you

Europeans Explore Texas

Raise your hand if you have been to or have heard of the amusement park called. . .

The amusement park pays tribute to the true six flags that have flown over Texas. Do you know what those flags are? _____ 1519 -1821 ______ 1685 -1690 ______ 1821 -1836 ____ of Texas in the ______ 1861 - Texas in the ______1845 -1861, 1865 -present 1836 -1845

Let’s take a closer look at exploring the Americas! So… who was the first explorer in the Americas? What was he looking for? When and where did he look? Why (what motivated him)? And how did he go about finding “IT”? Create a diagram on page 10 of your binder. Brainstorm with your group (10 min. ) Share with class

Do you remember the last time you packed for a trip? Just packing a suitcase may not be so hard, but imagine you are mom or dad and have to organize the entire trip. Car, gas, hotel, food, etc. Depending on where you are going (camping? ) you may need even more provisions. This takes some planning and organizing… and money! Imagine… you are Christopher Columbus and you want to plan an expedition. You want to set off into the unknown in order to find Asia. How can you best plan for this expedition? It’s time for some more brainstorming with your group. Try to think about all the provisions needed to not only survive, but to make your voyage successful. Choose a scribe for your group to record your answers. Each group member needs to contribute at least 5 items. You have 10 minutes… then we will share and discuss answers.

ZOOM OUT ZOOM IN Replicas of Columbus’ ships Pinta and Nina. Do you know the name of the 3 rd ship?

Sailing with Christopher Columbus Imagine that you have the opportunity to sail with Christopher Columbus on one of his voyages. You are sailing off into the unknown and do not know if and when you will return. Life aboard ship is hard; food and water tend to spoil, and ships often wreck in storms. Nevertheless, the promise of fame and fortune has led thousands to risk their lives at sea. COPY ONLY THE UNDERLINED SENTENCES: Knowing the risks as well as the potential for wealth and fame, would you sign on as a crew member for a voyage with Christopher Columbus to the unknown? Why or why not? Write one paragraph (min. 8 complete sentences) on the back of your web. Then we will share our answers with the class.

Just the facts The following slides will provide you with a list of significant explorers and their contributions to Texas. So… does that mean they all came to Texas? Pay close attention as you read about each explorer.

Explorer: Columbus (1492) Year He Discovered the West Indies Known for West Indies/New World Why in Texas? He wasn’t!!! Impact of Expedition Failure – he didn’t discover a faster route to India Success – he opened up the “New World” to Europe Impact Started Spanish exploration in North America (Texas) on Texas

Explorer: Cortez (1521) Year He Conquered the Aztecs Known for Mexico/Aztecs Why in Texas? He wasn’t!!! BUT his purpose for exploring was to get GOLD, GLORY and GOD for Spain Impact of Expedition: Success - conquered the Aztecs and became first “governor” of New Spain (Mexico) Impact Inspired others to explore more territory in North America (including Texas) the

Columbus Cortes The two explorers that we just talked about were NEVER IN TEXAS!!!! Pineda De Vaca All of the rest of the explorers WERE in Texas at some point!!! Coronado Moscoso Onate La Salle

Explorer: Pineda (1519) Year TX History began (the year he mapped our coast) Known for Why in Texas? MAP The governor of Jamaica ordered Pineda to explore this new area in order to find a route to the Pacific Impact of Expedition: Success (he mapped the coast) Failure (no route to the Pacific) Impact on Texas 1 st to observe and map the Texas Coast

Explorer: Cabeza de Vaca (1528 -1536) Years he was stranded in North America Known for SHIPWRECK Why in Texas? Oops… it was an accident… shipwrecked (looking for GOLD in FL, Narvaez was killed) Impact of Expedition Failure – no GOLD, no GLORY… but he did… meet the Karwankawas, Texas’ 1 st explorer, 1 st surgeon, 1 st author with Relacion which recalls his years in Texas Impact on Texas Told tales of cities of gold – led to more exploration www. texasbeyondhistory. net Click on “Prehistoric” Choose “South Texas Plains” Click on “Kids Activities” Choose the “Journey with an Explorer”

Explorer: Coronado (1540 -1542) Years he explored the Great Plains PANHANDLE Why in Texas? Looking for the 7 cities of GOLD (Quiviera & Cibola) Impact of Expedition: Failure – No gold, no settlements crossed the “Sea of Grass” (TX Panhandle) Impact on Texas Told about buffalo, villages, mapped TX LAND in the Panhandle

Explorer: Moscoso (1542 -1543) Hernan de Soto Years he was in charge of the expedition Known for EAST TX Why in Texas? Hernan de Soto was looking for GOLD, when he died, Moscoso took over and took the expedition to East TX Impact of Expedition Failure – no gold Impact on 1 st European in East TX Texas

~ Explorer: Onate (1598) Year he was exploring the El Paso area Known for El Paso Why in Texas? Looking for gold that Coronado had failed to find Impact of Expedition Failure – no gold Impact on Texas 1 st Thanksgiving in North America? Explored the El Paso area and gave it the name “El Paso”

Explorer: La Salle (1685 -1687) Years Fort St. Louis was in Texas Known for French Why in Texas? He was LOST!! Looking for the Mississippi River Impact of Expedition Fort St. Louis (settlement) – claimed TX for the French for two years – murdered by his own crew Impact on Texas Made the Spanish paranoid – the Spanish got more serious about settling TX and not just exploring it