10
Journey to the
New World
In spring 1534, Cartier left
St. Malo with two ships.
He had
a crew of 61 men. There is no list
of the men Cartier took with him.
Most of the crew were ordinary
sailors. Cartier’s main mission was
to find a way to Asia, but he had
other instructions, too. France
was a
Catholic
country, and the
French wanted to spread their
religion across the world. Cartier
felt his duty was to claim land for
France and the Church. Cartier
made a speedy journey across the
Atlantic. He arrived off the coast
of Newfoundland just 20 days
after leaving St. Malo.
Cartier leaves
St. Malo to sail
across the Atlantic.
April 20
1534
Expedition
arrives at
Bonavista.
May 10
1534
English fishermen settled Bonavista
in the late 1500s. The historic
lighthouse was built in 1843.
