Which of the following best describes the defining characteristics of the Age of Contact era in Texas history? F. Anglo and Span
ish settlers established colonies in Texas. G. American Indian tribes were driven out of Texas by French settlers. H. Spanish explorers and French explorers both claimed land in Texas. J. Spanish exploration of Texas expanded after the discovery of gold.
The wave of exploration that began with Columbus’ voyage in 1492 didn’t take long to reach the land that is now Texas. Spain’s conquest of the Americas began on a series of islands in what is now the Caribbean Sea. New colonial cities on those islands soon became hubs for exploration of the mainland. By 1519, exploration had turned to conquest in what is now Mexico, when Hernán Cortés landed on the Yucatán peninsula then pushed inland to the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan.
an excuse for the american government to drive out the native populous from the land, and develop economic opportunities in the west, especially the prospect of gold and oil in California, and the relative proximity to Asia from the west coast.
