Colonization in America France & Spain

France A 'super power' in Europe Mercantilism extended a nation's authority, power and influence by territorial gain and by the establishment of economic and political dominance. The discovery of the 'New World' provided new lands and opportunities for France and the French in America.

French Settlement French colonization of America began in the 16th century France established a colonial empire in the Western Hemisphere, founding colonies eastern North America, on some Caribbean islands, and in South America. Most colonies were developed to export products such as fish, sugar, and furs.

French explored New World, seeking route to Pacific Ocean and wealth King Francis I, sent Italian-born Giovanni da Verrazzano to explore eastern coast of North America Jacques Cartier explored Newfoundland coast and St. Lawrence River. Samuel de Champlain founded Quebec & explored the Great Lakes A major French settlement Saint-Domingue lay on the island of Hispaniola.

Native-French Relationships The French were eager to explore North America but New France remained largely unpopulated. Due to the lack of women, intermarriages between French and Indians were frequent, giving rise to the Métis people. Relations between the French and Indians were usually peaceful

French Respected Indians "Spanish civilization crushed the Indian; English civilization scorned and neglected him; French civilization embraced and cherished him" — Francis Parkman

low Population density in New France remained problem To boost the French population, Cardinal Richelieu issued an act declaring that Indians converted to Catholicism were considered as "natural Frenchmen“ Louis XIV also tried to increased the population by sending approximately 800 young women nicknamed the "King's Daughters"

French Caribbean colonies more settled than North American colonies but French generally looked at America as a place to make one’s fortune not to permanently settle In 1754 (the beginning of the French and Indian War), the British population in North America outnumbered the French 20 to 1. French in Arcadia

Spanish and Portuguese Colonization of the Americas

In the 1500s, Spain claimed a vast empire stretching from California to South America. illuminatimatrix.wordpress.com

Spain was determined to maintain strict control over its empire. To achieve this goal, the king set up the Council of the Indies to pass laws for the colonies. He also appointed viceroys, who ruled in his name, in each province. The Council of the Indies in Spain closely monitored these colonial officials to make sure they did not assume too much authority . madmonarchist.blogspot.com

For Spain, winning souls for Christianity was as important as gaining land. The Catholic Church played a key role in the colonies, working with the government to convert Native Americans to Christianity. english-online.at

Church leaders served as royal officials Church leaders served as royal officials helped to regulate the activities of Spanish settlers. As Spain’s American empire expanded, Church authority expanded along with it. scde.mrooms.org

Franciscan, Jesuit, and other missionaries baptized thousands of Native Americans. In frontier regions, they built mission churches and worked to turn new converts into loyal subjects of the Catholic king of Spain. amazon.com

Spain forcibly imposed European culture over Native American culture Spain forcibly imposed European culture over Native American culture. They also introduced European clothing, the Spanish language, and new crafts such as carpentry and locksmithing. blackpast.org

To make the empire profitable, Spain closely controlled its economic activities, especially trade. Colonists could export raw materials only to Spain and could buy only Spanish manufactured goods. Laws forbade colonists from trading with other European nations. The most valuable resources shipped from Spanish American to Spain were silver and gold. oldsaltblog.com

Sugar cane was introduced into the West Indies and elsewhere and quickly became a profitable resource. The cane was refined into sugar, molasses, and rum. Sugar cane had to be grown on plantations, large estates run by an owner. Finding the large numbers of workers needed to make the plantations profitable was a major problem. stcroixthisweek.com

At first, Spanish monarchs granted the conquistadors encomiendas, the right to demand labor or tribute from Native Americans in a particular area. The conquistadors used this system to force Native Americans to work under the most brutal conditions. Those who resisted were hunted down and killed. Disease, starvation, and cruel treatment caused catastrophic declines in the population. en.wikipedia.org

A few bold priests, like Bartolome de las Casas, condemned the evils of the encomienda system. In vivid reports to Spain, Las Casas detailed the horrors that Spanish rule had brought to Native Americans and pleaded with the king to end the abuse. en.wikipedia.org

Prodded by Las Casas, Spain passed the New Laws of the Indies in 1542, forbidding enslavement of Native Americans. The laws were meant to end abuses against Native Americans, but Spain was too far away to enforce them. seniorreligion.com

Many Native Americans were forced to become peons, workers forced to labor for a landlord in order to pay off a debt. Landlords advanced them food, tools, or seeds, creating debts that workers could never pay off in their lifetime. dipity.com

To fill the labor shortage, Las Casas urged colonists to import workers from Africa. Africans were immune to tropical diseases, he said, and had skills in farming, mining, and metalworking. africanamericansslavery.blogspot.com

Las Casas later regretted that advice because it furthered the brutal African slave trade. Colonists had begun bringing Africans to the Americas as early as 1502. freewebs.com

As demand for sugar products skyrocketed, the settlers imported millions of Africans as slaves. They were forced to work as field hands, miners, or servants in the houses of wealthy landowners. Others became peddlers, skilled artisans, artists, and mechanics. newsone.com

In Spanish America, the mix of diverse peoples gave rise to a new social structure. The blending of Native American, African, and European peoples and traditions resulted in a new American culture. article.wn.com

At the top of colonial society were peninsulares, people born in Spain At the top of colonial society were peninsulares, people born in Spain. The term referred to the Iberian Peninsula. Peninsulares filled the highest positions in both colonial governments and the Catholic Church. Next came creoles, American-born descendants of Spanish settlers. Creoles owned most of the plantations, ranches, and mines. colombia.com

Other social groups reflected the mixing of populations Other social groups reflected the mixing of populations. They included mestizos, people of Native American and European descent, and mulattos, people of African and European descent. Native Americans and people of African descent formed the lowest social classes. en.wikipedia.org