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The European Conquest and Colonization of the Americas. Five Nations started colonies in the New World. Spain – in South, Central and North America Portugal – in Brazil France – In Canada Great Britain – along the East Coast of North America The Dutch – On Long Island.
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The European Conquest and Colonization of the Americas
Five Nations started colonies in the New World • Spain – in South, Central and North America • Portugal – in Brazil • France – In Canada • Great Britain – along the East Coast of North America • The Dutch – On Long Island
Cycle of Conquest & Colonization Explorers Conquistadores OfficialEuropeanColony! Missionaries PermanentSettlers
Ferdinand Magellan & the First Circumnavigation of the World:Early 16c
European Explorations Looking for “El Dorado”
The Treaty of Tordesillas, 1494 & The Pope’s Line of Demarcation
The First Spanish Conquests:The Aztecs vs. Fernando Cortes Montezuma II
The First Spanish Conquests: The Incas vs. Francisco Pizarro Atahualpa
Father Bartolomé de Las Casas New Laws --> 1542
Why would the 'Columbian Exchange' be considered the tsunami of unintentional "bio-terrorism"?? Docs. 1- 4
TheSpanish Gain land and riches • Gain converts (Catholic) • Conquered and destroyed native cultures (Encomeinda system)
Motivated by the 3 G’s God, Glory and Gold Destroyed native culture Encomienda system Spain in the New World
Mercantilism • Economic activity should enhance power of the state (more gold and silver).
Mercantilism An economic policy of the major trading nations from the 16th to the 18th cent… …based on the premise that national wealth and power were best served by increasing exports and collecting precious metals in return. State action, an essential feature of the mercantile system… …used to accomplish its purposes-to sell more than it bought to accumulate bullion and raw materials.
Under a mercantilist policy, a government exercised much control over economic life by… regulating production, encouraging foreign trade, levying duties on imports to gain revenue, making treaties to obtain exclusive trading privileges, and exploiting the commerce of the colonies.
Mercantilism • Favorable balance of trade – Spanish try to control access to wealth • Mining (gold and silver) • Control commerce.
Fight for control • Spanish crown, colonists, and church fight for Indian cheap labor.
Foundation of economy – Indian labor. • Indian slavery and coercion – Indians paid tribute of gold and silver and worked for almost nothing or nothing.
Encomienda • An assignment of Indians who were to serve the Spanish grantee (colonist) with tribute and labor…Indian slavery!
Encomienda System = Feudal System • Headed by the Viceroy – a noble • Social hierarchy based on race • Peninsulares • Creoles • Mestizos • Mulattoes • Presidio – fort used to defend the mission – castle
Haciendas • As the encomienda system began to fail colonists created plantations called Haciendas – moved towards capitalism • Tribute was no longer given • Slavery still existed
The Congregacion • Churches attempt to control Indians • Placed Indians on reservations
The Missions • Once Indians were concentrated, Missions were established to convert and westernize the natives • Church schools
The Influence of the Colonial Catholic Church Our Lady of Guadalupe Guadalajara Cathedral Spanish Mission
Spanish Colonial Class System Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattos Native Indians Black Slaves
The English Transplantations:Motives for Settlement • Commercial • European belief in mercantilism • Find wealth or escape poverty (enclosure movement) • Religious • Puritans wanted to escape persecution • Establish religious communities
The English • Commercial ventures ($) • Joint Stock Companies • Religious freedom (Protestants) • Friendly at first – later fought natives for land Must Know
English Colonization • The Charter of the Virginia Company: • Guaranteed to colonists the same rights as Englishmen as if they had stayed in England. • This provision was incorporated into future colonists’ documents. • Colonists felt that, even in the Americas, they had the rights of Englishmen!
The English Transplantations:Jamestown • The first permanent English settlement • Colonists were “gentlemen” • Expected to find gold • Poor location and management • Located for defense • Smith saved colony from disaster
Captain John Smith:The Right Man for the Job?? There was no talk…but dig gold, wash gold, refine gold, load gold…
Jamestown • Their neighbors were the Powhattan Indians • Pocahontas • The English mistreated the Indians and used force to get what they wanted. This angered the Indians who refused to help the settlers
Jamestown • Jamestown nearly failed due to lack of supplies, poor weather and poor location 60 miles up the James River in a swampy area (Defense).
High Mortality Rates • The “Starving Time”: • 1607: 104 colonists • By spring, 1608: 38 survived • 1609: 300 more immigrants • By spring, 1610: 60 survived • 1610 – 1624: 10,000 immigrants • 1624 population: 1,200 • Adult life expectancy: 40 years • Death of children before age 5: 80%
John Rolfe What finally made the colony prosperous??
What saved Jamestown? • Tobacco was grown and the colony began to make a profit. Brought more settlers and $ Must Know
Tobacco Plant Virginia’s gold and silver. -- John Rolfe, 1612
English Tobacco Label • First Africans arrived in Jamestown in 1619. • Their status was not clear perhaps slaves, perhaps indentured servants. • Slavery not that important until the end of the 17c.
Virginia: “Child of Tobacco” • Tobacco’s effect on Virginia’s economy: • Vital role in putting VA on a firm economic footing. • Ruinous to soil when continuously planted. • Chained VA’s economy to a single crop. • Tobacco promoted the use of the plantation system. • Need for cheap, abundant labor.
Early Colonial Tobacco 1618 — Virginia produces 20,000 pounds of tobacco. 1622 — Despite losing nearly one-third of its colonists in an Indian attack, Virginia produces 60,000 pounds of tobacco. 1627 — Virginia produces 500,000 pounds of tobacco. 1629 — Virginia produces 1,500,000 pounds of tobacco.
Tobacco Prices: 1618-1710 Why did tobacco prices decline so precipitously?
