. A history of the United States. Ship 01? 1492 CHAPTER II GAINING A FOOTHOLD ON THE ATLANTIC SHORE Unexplored America. — In 1600 most of the region nowincluded in the United States was not even explored. Thefollowers of the unfortunate De Soto had floated down theMississippi to its mouth, and Coronado had marched ^^■^, s,i>^. over much of the South-west, but neither they northe other Spanish adven-turers attempted to explorethe region French had gone nofurther than the LachineRapids on the St. Law-rence. The vast plains andforests of the upper Mis-sissippi Valley had
. A history of the United States. Ship 01? 1492 CHAPTER II GAINING A FOOTHOLD ON THE ATLANTIC SHORE Unexplored America. — In 1600 most of the region nowincluded in the United States was not even explored. Thefollowers of the unfortunate De Soto had floated down theMississippi to its mouth, and Coronado had marched ^^■^, s,i>^. over much of the South-west, but neither they northe other Spanish adven-turers attempted to explorethe region French had gone nofurther than the LachineRapids on the St. Law-rence. The vast plains andforests of the upper Mis-sissippi Valley had not beenseen by white men. Andyet these lands were a prizericher than Mexico or Peru,not because of silver aridgold in the treasure-houses of imaginary cities, Map showing where the English, Dutch,but because of the wealth and French explorers of about 1600 ex-Of soil, forest, and mine, P^cted to find the South Sea or Pacific Ocean which would some day give work to milHons of men Supposed Extent of North America i8 SETTLEMENTS ON THE ATLANTIC SHORE The Rivals of the Spaniards. — When the new centuryopened the Spaniards were less able to struggle for the prizethan in the days of Cortes, De Soto, and Coronado. It istrue that they had conquered Portugal, and that their kingnow possessed the rich colonies which the Portuguese captainshad founded in the East Indies. But at the same time theSpaniards had wasted much money and many lives in a quar-rel with the Dutch, who were once Spains loyal Dutch were hardy sailors and were not afraid to attackSpanish ships. Indeed, they were usually victorious in suchbattles. The English also had a strong fleet and had in 1588nearly destroyed the Invincible Armada, the largest fleetthe Spaniards ever had. France was another dangerous rivalof Spain, especially under her new king, Henry of Navarre,the first of the Bourbon line of kings, who would not allowthe Spaniards to treat French settlements as Menendez did. Hin
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