SPANISH, FRENCH, ENGLISH, DUTCH, AND PORTUGUESE COLONIZATION European Colonialism, from 1492 to the 18 th Century

CHARACTERISTICS OF SPANISH COLONIAL RULE Spanish Conquest: God, Gold, and Glory! Spanish Conquest: God, Gold, and Glory! Conversion to Christianity was a major goal of the Spanish, accomplished by coercion if moral persuasion didn’t work. The Spanish routinely enslaved Native American populations in order to accumulate great wealth: Gold. Most Spanish conquistadors had the vision to understand that not even the Crown – the King and Queen of Spain – would have the power to control them in far away America. They would become viceroys – virtual emperors in America.

WHAT REGIONS WERE COLONIZED BY THE SPANISH?  Cuba and the Caribbean  Mexico  Florida  Most of the United States Southwest, including California and Texas  Central America  The Incan Empire of Present Day Peru  Chile  Practically all of South America except the Amazon Rain Forest and Brazil

CHARACTERISTICS OF FRENCH COLONIAL RULE To some extent, the notion of God, Gold, and Glory still applies here, but the French went about their business very differently. Conversion to Christianity was accomplished via moral suasion, and Jesuits might spend years trying to explain the mysteries of their faith to Native Americans. The French engendered trade with Native Americans, most notably the fur trade. Accordingly, they must cooperate with local Indians. Most French settlers understood that they were leaving European society for good when they came to America. When they settled in America, they frequently intermarried with Indians and developed unique, creole cultures.

WHAT REGIONS WERE COLONIZED BY THE FRENCH? The St. Lawrence Seaway The St. Lawrence Seaway The Great Lakes Region The Great Lakes Region Parts of the Ohio River Valley, south of the Great Lakes Region. Parts of the Ohio River Valley, south of the Great Lakes Region. The Mississippi River Region The Mississippi River Region New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory Haiti and a few islands of the Lesser Antilles Haiti and a few islands of the Lesser Antilles

CHARACTERISTICS OF ENGLISH COLONIAL RULE English colonists set out to gain great wealth – not to convert Americans to Christianity. The Virginia Company of London is a clear illustration of this. Even when more religious minded individuals and groups like the Pilgrims, the Puritans, the Quakers, and Catholics seeking refuge in America began to settle the region, they were less devoted to proselytizing people and more concerned with prosperity and righteousness within their own communities. The source of conflict between English settlers and Native Americans was usually land. The English, who rarely intermarried with Native Americans, were notorious for encroaching upon Native Americans territory.

WHAT REGIONS WERE COLONIZED BY THE ENGLISH? Newfoundland, the Hudson Bay area, and the Northern reaches of Canada. Newfoundland, the Hudson Bay area, and the Northern reaches of Canada. The Oregon Country – including present day Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Vancouver Island. The Oregon Country – including present day Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Vancouver Island. The Thirteen American Colonies – east of the Appalachian Mountains. The Thirteen American Colonies – east of the Appalachian Mountains. The Ohio River Valley The Ohio River Valley Islands in the Caribbean – Jamaica, and islands of the Lesser Antilles Islands in the Caribbean – Jamaica, and islands of the Lesser Antilles Small portions of Central America Small portions of Central America

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DUTCH TRADERS The Dutch were the original European settlers of New York. They famously purchased all of Manhattan Island for just a few trinkets and metal goods – one of the most one-sided real estate transactions in American history. The Dutch were influential for two major reasons. First of all, they were a very diverse and tolerant society – religion, nationality, and ethnicity were not barriers to the Dutch when it came to their principle objectives in the New World: Trade. The Dutch were willing to trade with almost any group they encountered, including the French, the English, and Native American tribes.

CHARACTERISTICS OF PORTUGUESE COLONIALISM The Portuguese are not often focused upon when it comes to the colonization of America. There were not regions of the United States which were settled by the Portuguese. Yet, this nation had a dramatic influence on American history. First, the Portuguese were essential to the improvements in navigation and seafaring which resulted in the discovery of the continents. Second, and probably most importantly, the Portuguese were the first group to engage in the slave trade. Their development of the sugar plantation – and the labor system which placed other human beings in bondage – would shape American history.

WHAT REGIONS WERE COLONIZED BY THE PORTUGUESE? The Verde Islands The Verde Islands Brazil Brazil West Coast of Africa plantation system of agriculture Remember, the major contributions of the Portuguese to American identity are not necessarily achieved by colonization. The Portuguese were the first to focus scientifically on shipbuilding and navigation; they were the first to sail to the West Coast of Africa and to navigate around that continent on a mission to India; and finally, they were the first to adopt the plantation system of agriculture – enslaving Africans to work on the sugar plantations.