European Exploration, Colonization and Conflict (1513–1765)
European Exploration, Colonization and Conflict (1513–1765) Christopher Columbus started exploring the Caribbean on behalf of Spain in 1492, resulting in Spanish-speaking colonies and missions from the current Puerto Rico and Florida to California and New Mexico. The earliest Spanish colony in today's continental United States was Spanish Florida, which was chartered in 1513. Following a number of failed settlements there because of starvation and disease, Spain's first permanent town, Saint Augustine, was established in 1565. France also had its own settlements in French Florida in 1562, but they were either deserted (Charlesfort, 1578) or wrecked by Spanish attacks (Fort Caroline, 1565). Stable French settlements were established much later on the Great Lakes (Fort Detroit, 1701), the Mississippi (Saint Louis, 1764) and particularly the Gulf of Mexico (New Orleans, 1718). Early European settlements also included the successful Dutch settlement of New nederland (establishe...