Ch 5: Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 4: The Atlantic World (1492-1800)
About This Chapter
How it works:
- Identify the lessons in McDougal Littell Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction's The Atlantic World chapter with which you need help.
- Find the corresponding video lessons within this companion course chapter.
- Watch fun videos that cover the European exploration and colonization topics you need to learn or review.
- Complete the quizzes to test your understanding.
- If you need additional help, rewatch the videos until you've mastered the material or submit a question for one of our instructors.
Students will learn:
- Reasons why the Europeans ventured to the Americas
- Goals of major Portuguese explorers
- Major Spanish explorers and Spanish colonies
- New Netherlands, New Sweden, and New France settlements
- Problems affecting the Jamestown settlement
- Puritans' role in establishing the New England colonies
- Impact of European colonization on the indigenous population
- Triangular Trade system and slavery
- Slave trade in colonial America
- Impact of the Columbian Exchange
- Limitations of the capitalist system
- Economic effects of the Commercial Revolution
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1. The Old World and New World: Why Europeans Sailed to the Americas
During the Age of Exploration, Europeans risked passing the waters of the Old World to explore the New World. Explore three reasons Europeans sailed to the Americas, including a spirit of adventure, religion, and a desire for wealth.

2. Great Explorers of Spain and Portugal: Aims & Discoveries
Spain and Portugal funded many famous explorers, including Christopher Columbus, on expeditions to numerous countries in their global expansion efforts. Follow the travels of several explorers into South America, Central America, and, ultimately, North America, resulting in profitable discoveries like gold, and violent conquests, such as Cortez taking Mexico from the Aztecs for Spain.

3. New Spain: Spanish Explorers and Spanish Colonies
Learn about the first explorers and conquistadors of the Americas during the Age of Discovery. This lesson provides an explanation of the hacienda and encomienda systems of management that created class divisions in the Spanish colonies.

4. New France, New Netherlands & New Sweden: North American Settlements
Several European nations tried to establish colonies in America including France, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Explore the early colonies in North America, what they succeed in, how they eventually fell, and who took over.

5. The Settlement of Jamestown Colony
In 1607, Englishmen founded the settlement of Jamestown, where they interacted with North American natives. Learn about the history of Jamestown and read about the events involving Powhatan and Pocahontas, the native settlers, and the royal colony of Virginia.

6. The Puritans and the Founding of the New England Colonies
The Puritans helped found the New England colonies. Learn about the Puritans and their role in developing the New England colonies, including the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Explore the lives of some of the New England colonies' leaders such as John Winthrop, Roger Williams, Anne Hutchinson, and Thomas Hooker. Understand the roles that the Puritans and each of these leaders played in forming the colonies of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.

7. Effects of European Colonization: Christopher Columbus and Native Americans
European colonization and the voyage of Christopher Columbus permanently effected the development of the Americas. Learn why Europeans sailed to the Americas, what effect European diseases had on Native Americans, and how horses and metal tools impacted native societies.

8. Rise of the Slave Trade: Black History in Colonial America
Black history in Colonial American began with the slave trade. This lesson covers the triangular trade, the Middle Passage, Phillis Wheatley, task systems, slave codes, and Black people's different experiences in the northern and southern colonies.

9. The Columbian Exchange
The Columbian Exchange occurred as a result of Christopher Columbus' discovery of America in 1492. Explore the problematic history of Christopher Columbus discovering America and how his voyage and the Colombian Exchange impacted the world at large.

10. Capitalism and the Free Market: Definition & Limitations
Capitalism is an economic system that allows private entities, rather than government, to own capital goods and the means of production. Explore the definition, characteristics, and limitations of capitalism and the free market. Understand the concepts of market price, supply, and demand.

11. The Commercial Revolution: Economic Impact of Exploration and Colonization on Europe
Near the end of the Middle Ages, European commerce increased and helped spur the Industrial Revolution. Discover how mercantilism and the New World influenced the Commercial Revolution, and understand how the Commercial Revolution influenced banks, joint-stock companies, and inflation.
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Other Chapters
Other chapters within the McDougal Littell Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction: Online Textbook Help course
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Prologue: Connecting With Past Ideas
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 1 : European Renaissance & Reformation (1300-1600)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 2: The Muslim World Expands (1300-1700)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 3: An Age of Exploration & Isolation (1400 - 1800)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 5: Absolute Monarchs in Europe (1500-1800)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 6: Enlightenment and Revolution (1550-1789)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 7: The French Revolution and Napoleon (1789-1815)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 8: Nationalist Revolutions Sweep the West (1789-1900)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 9: The Industrial Revolution (1700-1900)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 10: An Age of Democracy and Progress (1815-1914)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 11: The Age of Imperialism (1850-1914)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 12: Transformations Around the Globe (1800-1914)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 13: The Great War (1914-1918)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 14: Revolution and Nationalism (1900-1939)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 15: Years of Crisis (1919-1939)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 16: World War II (1939-1945)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 17: Restructuring the Postwar World (1945-Present)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 18: The Colonies Become New Nations (1945-Present)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 19: Struggles for Democracy (1945-Present)
- Modern World History - Patterns of Interaction Chapter 20: Global Interdependence (1960-Present)