Name: ______________________________
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
Before planes, people traveled by boat. And getting goods
from one place to another took a long time, especially when ships had
to sail around continents. In the early 1600s, European trading
companies were looking for faster routes to sail to India and Asia.
In 1607, British explorer Henry Hudson led two failed voyages to
find a northeast passage across the Arctic Ocean to Asia. He was searching for a route above the
Arctic Circle, and his biggest problem was navigating around icebergs, which blocked his path. After
failing twice, Hudson couldn’t get a British company to fund his next voyage. He had to persuade the
Dutch East India Company to back his third expedition.
Hudson left Amsterdam on April 4, 1609 aboard a ship named the Half Moon. Once again he was
searching for a northern water passage, and just like on his previous trips, icebergs blocked his path and
made his crew threaten mutiny. Hudson soon realized that a northeast passage across the Arctic would
be nearly impossible. He decided to change directions and search for a water route to Asia through the
New World instead. Hudson and the Half Moon's crew headed southwest across the Atlantic Ocean to
America.
After several months, Hudson landed on small islands near Newfoundland, Canada. He sailed the
Half Moon along the coast in search of a northwest passage across the continent of North America. He
arrived in the New York Harbor and sailed up a body of water that is now named the Hudson River. He
thought the river might lead to the Pacific Ocean. But he was wrong, and he was forced to turn back to
Europe. He had explored new lands, but did not find a route to Asia.
Hudson made one final attempt in 1610, on a new ship named Discovery. He sailed Discovery
across the northern Atlantic, along the coast of Greenland, and into Canada. He discovered a large
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body of water that became known as Hudson Bay. Unfortunately, the Hudson Bay did not lead to Asia.
Furthermore, Hudson's luck had run out. Winter weather hit the region and Discovery had become
trapped in thick ice. Hudson's crew became angry. They wanted to return to Europe, but Hudson
wanted to continue searching for a passage to Asia. When spring came, the crew revolted and took
control of the ship. They put Hudson, his son, and a few men who stayed loyal to Hudson on a small
boat somewhere in Hudson Bay. The crew sailed Discovery back to Europe and Henry Hudson was
never seen again.
Although Henry Hudson failed his attempts to find a northern water route to Asia, he is credited
with being the first European to sail up the Hudson River. He also claimed new land for the Netherlands
and had several areas named after him, including the Hudson River, Hudson Bay, the Henry Hudson
Bridge, and Hudson County in New Jersey.
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Name: ______________________________
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
1. In 1609, why couldn't Hudson continue looking for a
northeast passage through the Arctic?
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
2. What ship was Hudson sailing when he discovered the Hudson River?
a. Half Moon b. Discovery
c. Atlantic d. Santa Maria
3. How long did it take Hudson to travel from the North Cape to the Hudson River?
a. about a month b. about four months
c. about seven months d. about a year and four months
4. Explain why Hudson didn't return to Europe after discovering Hudson Bay.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. Why did European trading companies want Hudson to find a water route to Asia?
a. so they could buy and sell goods with Asians more cheaply
b. so they could find out what life was like in Asia
c. so they could fish in Asian waters
d. so they could find out if the world was round
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Name: ______________________________
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
Read each sentence from the article. Choose the best definition for
each underlined word.
1. After failing twice, Hudson couldn't get a British company to fund his next voyage.
a. allow b. pay for
c. go along on d. write about
2. The crew revolted and took control of the ship.
a. tried to overthrow a leader b. repaired a broken vehicle
c. rested for a long period of time d. yelled loudly and ran about
3. Hudson left Amsterdam on April 4, 1609 aboard a ship named the Half Moon.
a. city in England b. city in Iceland
c. city in the New World d. city in the Netherlands
4. Winter weather hit the region and Discovery had become trapped in thick ice.
a. ship b. area or place
c. Earth d. body of water
5. In the early 1600s, European trading companies were looking for faster routes to sail to
India and Asia.
a. ships built for speed b. way to travel from one place to another
c. dangerous paths d. people who do things quickly
6. Once again he was searching for a northern water passage, and just like on his previous
trips, icebergs blocked his path and made his crew threaten mutiny.
a. to make jokes about the captain b. to stop working
c. to leave the ship d. to take over the ship
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Name: ______________________________
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
Look at the picture of Henry Hudson shown below.
Write a paragraph to explain what is happening in the picture.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
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ANSWER KEY
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
1. In 1609, why couldn't Hudson continue looking for a
northeast passage through the Arctic?
Icebergs blocked his path and his crew threatened mutiny.
2. What ship was Hudson sailing when he discovered the
Hudson River? a
a. Half Moon b. Discovery
c. Atlantic d. Santa Maria
3. How long did it take Hudson to travel from the North Cape to the Hudson River? b
a. about a month b. about four months
c. about seven months d. about a year and four months
4. Explain why Hudson didn't return to Europe after discovering Hudson Bay.
Hudson wanted to continue looking for a route to Asia. his crew wanted to return to
Asia. His crew revolted and left him stranded in a small boat in the Hudson Bay.
5. Why did European trading companies want Hudson to find a water route to Asia? a
a. so they could buy and sell goods with Asians more cheaply
b. so they could find out what life was like in Asia
c. so they could fish in Asian waters
d. so they could find out if the world was round
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ANSWER KEY
Henry Hudson
by Kelly Hashway
Read each sentence from the article. Choose the best definition for
each underlined word.
1. After failing twice, Hudson couldn't get a British company to fund his next voyage. b
a. allow b. pay for
c. go along on d. write about
2. The crew revolted and took control of the ship. a
a. tried to overthrow a leader b. repaired a broken vehicle
c. rested for a long period of time d. yelled loudly and ran about
3. Hudson left Amsterdam on April 4, 1609 aboard a ship named the Half Moon. d
a. city in England b. city in Iceland
c. city in the New World d. city in the Netherlands
4. Winter weather hit the region and Discovery had become trapped in thick ice. b
a. ship b. area or place
c. Earth d. body of water
5. In the early 1600s, European trading companies were looking for faster routes to sail to
India and Asia. b
a. ships built for speed b. way to travel from one place to another
c. dangerous paths d. people who do things quickly
6. Once again he was searching for a northern water passage, and just like on his previous
trips, icebergs blocked his path and made his crew threaten mutiny. d
a. to make jokes about the captain b. to stop working
c. to leave the ship d. to take over the ship
Super Teacher Worksheets - [Link]
