Chapter 4 Spain Builds an Empire

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain The Search for Gold Esteban was a sailor and former slave who told the story about the rich kingdom of Cibola located north of Mexico. He had survived a shipwreck off the coast of Texas with Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, a conquistador. They had been exploring the Southwest region of the US. They searched, but never found Cibola.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain The Spanish Explore the North Juan Ponce de Leon landed in the Florida peninsula in 1513. Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca explored Texas in 1528. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado explored the American Southwest in 1540. Hernando de Soto became the first European to reach the Mississippi River in 1540.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain Society in New Spain By the end of the 1500s, most of the fighting between natives and conquistadors N & S of Mexico City had ended. Spanish colonists moved to these lands. A new society, or group of people forming a community, was forming. Peninsulares were people born in Spain. They were at the top of colonial society. They were wealthy and powerful. Some owned plantations, or large farms with many workers. Some peninsulares received encomiendas (They were granted control of all the native peoples on an area of land. The peninsulares were supposed to care for the native peoples and convert them to Christianity. In return the native peoples had to give the encomienda owners a share of their crops and other gooods. Creoles were people of Spanish background born in the Americas. Mestizos were people of Spanish and Indian background. They were the largest group. Indians and Africans held the lowest positions in this society. They had no Spanish ancestors.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain Society in New Spain Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Indians and Africans

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain More Changes for Native Peoples Many encomienda owners put native peoples to work as farm workers, miners, and servants. For many it was a form of slavery. They were forced to work long hours with little food and no pay. Roman Catholic missionaries ran encomiendas. A missionary teaches his or her religion to others who have different beliefs. Priests built missions, or religious settlements, throughout New Spain. The purposes of these missions was to teach the native peoples about Christianity. Missionaries also taught farming practices such as raising cattle and sheep. Natives were treated cruelly on some missions.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain More Changes for Native Peoples Bartolome de Las Casas was a priest who spoke out against the mistreatment of Native peoples under the care of the church. Las Casas persuaded Spain to pass laws in 1542 saying that Native peoples must be paid for their work. However, these laws were not enforced and were later canceled.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain Slavery in the Americas The Spanish first brought enslaved Africans to the Caribbean island of Hispaniola in 1512. The Spanish needed the enslaved Africans to replace the native peoples who were dying in large numbers from disease and overwork. The African peoples on the encomiendas and plantations also died from overwork and mistreatment. The profits from colonial plantations created great wealth for Spain and helped to make Spain one of the most powerful countries in the world.

Lesson 3: Life in New Spain Vocabulary Review Expedition journey made for a special purpose Colony settlement far away from the country that rules it Conquistador Spanish conqueror Encomienda granted someone control of Indians on an area of land Missionary person who teaches his or her religion to people of different beliefs