1. Contact and Exploration

2. Columbian Exchange in Old World : A population explosion!
Potatoes and corn to Europe led to rapid population growth
Europe 1492 = 80M; 1650 = 105M
African population growth made slave trade easier.
What did these foods increase population?

3. Colonists and Indians
Conquistadors rewarded with annual tribute, plunder and grants known as encomiendas – the right to forced labor in return for “Christianizing” Indians
Indians exposed to disease, and overworked on large plantations
EVENTUAL ASSIMILATION WAS GOAL! What is Assimilation?

4. New Spain
Located in present-day Mexico with Mexico City being the capital.
A new population of creoles, mestizos, Native Americans and Africans
New Spain became rich as a result of sugar plantations and silver mines.

5. Bartolome de Las Casas
Las Casas, a Spanish priest, wrote of mistreatment of Indians, detailed cruelty of conquistadors, and pleaded for intervention by Spanish authorities.
Although he later changed his mind, he called for use of African Slavery to spare the Indian population
Recognized as a hero by indigenous peoples of Mexico
His work contributed to Black Legend

6. Tremendous wealth!
Spain became the dominant power AND a perceived threat to other European nations
Spain began to lose it dominance when England defeated the Spain Armada in
Spain lost control of New Mexico (present-day southwestern US) in with Pueblo Indians revolted under the leadership of Popé. It would be 14 years before Spain regained to some control.

7. New France
Original goal: Northwest Passage and to find gold  failure. Fur trade became the economic motivation of French efforts
Quebec 1608,
Sieur de La Salle claimed Mississippi Basin
Sparsely settled – only 19,000 by 1700
King opposed settlement
Bad reports on environment
Numbers not needed for beaver/fur trade

8. New France and Indians
Emphasis on trade  a generally more humane relationship and series of alliances with various tribes
Did not appropriate land or force labor
Generally promoted Indian assimilation, however many French became assimilated into Indian cultures

9. The Dutch in North America (New Netherlands)
By 1614 Dutch created an outpost at what is now Albany New York; purchase of Manhattan (named New Amsterdam)
Settlements centered on fur trade
Very tolerant and diverse communities
Colony governed as a harsh military outpost
Large estates offered to patroons on Hudson River to attract wealthy investors who would transport servants – not generally successful
Only 9000 lived in New Netherlands when Britain seized it in mid 1600s,

10. Review Questions
What motivated the Spanish Empire for colonizing/exploring the Americas? What motivated the French? The Dutch?
What was the encomienda system?
Who was de las Casas and what was the Black Legend?
In your opinion did the Native Americans benefit at all from their interactions with Europeans?