Unit 2: Colonizing North America European Settlements in North America

Main Idea In the 1500s and 1600s, European nations, led by Spain continued to explore, claim territory, and build settlements in America.

Spain or Portugal? In 1494, the “new” world was divided between the major European powers of Spain and Portugal. The Treaty of Tordesillas was the treaty that divided the world, giving Spain the best deal, by far. Guess where the Pope of the time came from?

Conquistadors Spanish explorers in the 1500s were known as Conquistadors, which is Spanish for “conquerors.” They ventured out for the “3 G’s” of Spanish exploration: God, gold and glory In other words, riches, fame and to spread Christianity

Juan Ponce de León Claimed an area on Easter Sunday, 1513 which he named “La Florida.” He was searching for the mythical “Fountain of Youth”

Hernán Cortés and the Aztec Seeking gold and land Cortés and his conquistadors landed on the Gulf Coast of Mexico in 1519, intent on conquering the Aztec Empire

Factors that aided Cortés’s conquest Some Aztec saw the Spanish as prophesized gods Did this include Aztec ruler Moctezuma? Some say yes, others suggest it is a myth applied after the conquest to explain defeat Cortés gathered allies from the angry tribes conquered by the Aztec, enlarging his army

Factors that aided Cortés’s conquest Aztec ruler Moctezuma tried to avoid warfare and bribed the Spanish with gold Aided by Malinche, a native ally who served as an interpreter Weapons, horses, dogs, armor, disease, etc.

Other Conquistadors… Francisco Pizzaro – Took advantage of the aftermath of the Incan civil war to lead a Spanish expedition to conquer Peru Hernando de Soto – aided the conquest of Peru & explored the Southeastern US for gold and good sites to colonize de Soto died in 1542, a failure in the eyes of the Spanish

Impact of the Spanish Conquest The fall of the Aztec devastated many Mexican people and their culture – many traditions lost Christianity (Catholicism) became the official religion Spanish became the official language

Social Structure of Spain’s Empire in the Americas Peninsulares – Those who came from Spain, considered themselves superior to all others Creoles – Pure Spanish descent, born in Americas Mestizos – Mixed Spanish and Native Mixed Spanish & African, pure-blooded Native peoples and Africans

Spanish Society in the Americas A key aspect of the Spanish social structure was the mission. These developed into large plantations, centered on the church. Missionaries were then sent out to convert local populations to Christianity. The economic system the colonies used was called the encomienda system.

Other nations explore… Henry VII of England sent John Cabot to explore in 1497 He landed in Newfoundland and claimed it for England – like Columbus he claimed he landed in Asia

Queen Elizabeth I Built England into a global power based on its navy Her captains attacked Spanish ships, stealing their gold and silver. One such captain Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in 1577

Queen Elizabeth I In 1588, the Spanish Armada was sent to England where both weather and England’s Navy defeated it, shifting the balance of power to the English on the oceans.

France Jacques Cartier discovered the St. Lawrence River and claimed Quebec In 1608, Samuel de Champlain founded a fur trading post In 1666, the Sieur de la Salle followed the Mississippi River to its mouth and claimed land for France, naming it Louisiana after the king