John Cabot
John Cabot moved to England in 1495 and was anxious to go on an exploration. He hoped that England would sponsor his journey. Two years later, King Henry VII of England, asked Cabot to find the Northwest Passage. The Northwest Passage was a sea route from Europe across the Atlantic Ocean to Asia.
Cabot left England in May, 1497. About 35 days later, he sighted land!! Just like Columbus, He thought he had found Asia, but it was actually Canada! Since the area west of Europe was completely unknown, no one knew that he would bump into North America, long before he would ever reach China.
Cabot left England in May, 1497. About 35 days later, he sighted land!! Just like Columbus, He thought he had found Asia, but it was actually Canada! Since the area west of Europe was completely unknown, no one knew that he would bump into North America, long before he would ever reach China.
Cabot explored the eastern Canadian coastline for about a month and named many of its islands and capes.
When he returned to England and shared his good news with the king, the king was thrilled. Cabot was rewarded with a large sum of money. Although Cabot did not find the Northwest Passage, his voyage provided England with a claim to the lands along the eastern coast of Canada. With this claim, England could now begin to colonize in North America. |
During the next 300 years, explorers would follow Cabot’s lead in an attempt to find the Northwest Passage. Britain would establish colonies in the new lands Cabot had discovered. These would ultimately become the United States and Canada.
(Interesting fact: After Cabot’s exploration to Canada, he was apparently quite impressed with himself. He was known to dress in fancy clothes and parade himself around London, and he promised to give many of his friends their very own island! )
(Interesting fact: After Cabot’s exploration to Canada, he was apparently quite impressed with himself. He was known to dress in fancy clothes and parade himself around London, and he promised to give many of his friends their very own island! )
****Much of the above text taken word for word from EnchantedLearning.com, WorldBook online.com