How Did Cabot Contribute To The First American Exploration

During the late 1400’s and early 1500’s, many explorers were starting to explore and discover North America. European countries sent explorers to America to search for a better life, goods, to claim lands, to find the fountain of youth, and various other reasons. Christopher Columbus, Ponce de León, and John Cabot made a huge impact with their voyages to the new world; their discoveries later helped the establishment of new colonies in North America. Christopher Columbus, an Italian, went on four voyages between the years of 1492 and 1504. He had three ships: the Niña, Pinta, and Santa María. On his first voyage in 1492, he left Spain and thought he could reach East Asia sailing west through the Atlantic Ocean. He did not believe anything existed west of Europe and Asia, and he thought the world was smaller than it actually was. After ten weeks into the voyage, he thought he had landed on an island close to Asia, but it was the Bahamas. He also found Cuba, but first thought it was China. In
1498, he reached a whole new continent which was South America and not another part of Asia. His expeditions led to more Europeans exploring the Americas. In the late fifteenth century, Ponce de León, a Spanish native, started his exploration during Christopher Columbus’ second expedition.
León stopped at Dominican Republic to settle. In the early 1500’s, León discovered an island that is now known as Puerto Rico; therefore, he set sail again after being replaced as Governor by the King. He traveled north across the Bahamas and towards Florida looking for new lands, the fountain of youth, and gold. He claimed land on Florida’s east coast near what is now St. Augustine; he named it La Florida. After exploring the east and west coasts of Florida, he sailed back to Puerto Rico. A few years later, he returned with settlers to Florida to start a new colony. He wanted to start a farming colony near Charlotte Harbor. The Calusa Indians ambushed the settlers, and León was shot in the thigh by an arrow. The settlers decided to leave and travel back to Cuba because of the ambush. Ponce de León later died in Cuba because of his
wound. John Cabot, an English native, took two voyages. In the late 1490’s, King Henry VII wanted Cabot to explore new lands and comeback with goods to sell on the English Market. After receiving a commission for the goods, Cabot set sail in 1497 on his ship, called the Matthew. He left Bristol on his expedition across the northern Atlantic. Although the place he landed has never been determined for sure; the location is called Newfoundland, Cape Breton Island, or Southern Labrador. He saw signs of life, but did not see people there. He thought he had landed on Asia’s northeast coast. Cabot set out on a second voyage in 1498 with about five ships. The expedition was believed to have gone through a storm and disappeared while at sea. His expedition later showed a shorter route across the northern Atlantic Ocean. In conclusion, many explorers started to discover North America during the late 1400’s and early 1500’s. Christopher Columbus, Ponce de León, and John Cabot made a huge impact to the new world with their voyages. Their discoveries later helped the establishment of new colonies in North America. European countries sent out a lot of expeditions for a lot of different reasons. European explorers went to America to search for a better life, for goods, to claim lands, to find the fountain of youth, and various other reasons. Without the numerous expeditions taken by Columbus, León, and Cabot during the Age of Discovery, North America would not have turned out the way it did.