The Era of Exploration and Colonial Settlement (1492–1763) marks the period from Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the conclusion of the French and Indian War, during which European powers competed for control of North America.

 

Key Phases of Exploration and Settlement

  • Early Exploration (1492–1565): Initiated by Columbus's 1492 landing in the Bahamas. This phase was driven by the search for a Northwest Passage to Asia and the pursuit of gold and silver.
  • Establishment of Permanent Colonies (1565–1700):
    • Spain: Founded St. Augustine, Florida (1565), the oldest continuously inhabited European-established city in the U.S.. They also settled Santa Fe in 1609.
    • England: After the failed "Lost Colony" at Roanoke (1585), they established Jamestown, Virginia (1607). Religious dissenters later founded Plymouth (1620) and Massachusetts Bay (1630).
    • France: Established Quebec (1608) and focused heavily on the fur trade and exploring the Mississippi River.
    • Netherlands: Founded New Netherland (centered at New Amsterdam, now New York) around 1613, which was later captured by the English in 1664.
  • Consolidation and Conflict (1700–1763): By the early 1700s, European powers held strong footholds. Competition for territory culminated in the French and Indian War (1754–1763).

 

Impact on Indigenous Populations

The arrival of Europeans was perceived by Native American groups as an encroachment on territory they had controlled for centuries. Settlement led to:

  • Biological Exchange: Introduction of European diseases to which Native Americans had no immunity, leading to catastrophic population declines.
  • Displacement and Conflict: Continuous expansion resulted in the displacement of indigenous peoples and significant conflicts, such as the Pueblo Revolt (1680) and the Pequot War (1636–1638).

 

End of the Era: The 1763 Treaty of Paris

The 1763 Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years' War (French and Indian War), fundamentally reshaping the continent.

  • British Dominance: France ceded nearly all its North American territory to Britain and Spain.
  • Geopolitical Shift: Britain emerged as the dominant colonial power, controlling land from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River, setting the stage for subsequent tensions with its colonies.