Read & Listen: American Exploration



OVERVIEW

 On this page, you will read about European explorers and Native Americans.

  1. First, look at the picture and read the text. 
  2. Then, listen to audio of the text. 


READ & LISTEN

Explorer Columbus on his ship

Image by Emanuel Leutze, Public Domain

Read:

In the year 1492, an explorer named Christopher Columbus accidentally sailed to America.  Columbus sailed from Europe.  People in Europe did not know America existed.  After they knew, many people immigrated to the Americas.  They settled in many regions on the east coast.  

Many people say Columbus discovered America, even though people already lived in America.  These people are called Native Americans.  Native Americans lived in America for thousands of years, and still do today.  They farmed, hunted, and fished.  They also had laws they lived by.  The Native American cultures were very diverse.  

The arrival of the Europeans was not good for the Native Americans.  Europeans brought diseases.  Many Europeans were cruel, hateful and unfair.  Many Native Americans died because of the Europeans.

Listen:

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