The Countries of Europe Established Colonies in the Lands They Had Discovered But, in Some

NTBK P. 55- Imperialism and Colonization Notes

The countries of Europe established colonies in the lands they had discovered but, in some cases, only after violently conquering the native people who lived there.

Spain Builds an Empire

•Spain first to successfully settle in the Americas

•Eventually conquered native empires, the Aztecs and Incas

First areas settled by Spanish: Caribbean islands, Hispaniola, Cuba

Encomiendas

•Colonist given land and Native Americans to work the land

•Required to teach native workers about Christianity

•Mistreatment, overwork took toll on population

•Europeans spread new diseases

Life in the Spanish Empire

•With Mexico and Peru, Spain gained control of huge empire in Americas

•Spanish colonial economy based on gold, silver mining, farming

•Spanish drafted Native Americans for labor in mines, on farms

The Portuguese in Brazil

Portuguese built an empire in the Americas

Because of treaty, their empire was not as large as the Spanish one

Colonization

•Heavy Brazilian jungles made mining, farming difficult

•Portuguese in no hurry to settle

•1530s, colonists slowly moved in, mostly along Atlantic coast

–Established huge farming estates, as in Spanish lands

–First used Native American, then African slave, labor to work on farms

French and English Colonies in the Americas

Silver and gold from American colonies began to circulate in Europe; other European countries paid close attention.

New France

•French explorers established colonies in New France, or Canada

•Hoped this would be a rich source for gold, silver

•Did not find riches, but found other potentially valuable trade goods

Trade and Colonization

•Waters of North Atlantic swarming with fish, staple of European diet

•Forests yielded valuable furs

•French did not send large numbers of colonists; small groups of traders

•Did not enslave Native Americans

The English Colonies

•1607, first English colony established at Jamestown

•Settlers hoped to find gold, silver, river route to Pacific

•Instead found marshy ground, impure water

•80 percent of settlers died during first winter in America

•Colony still endured

Pilgrims

•1620, Pilgrims sailed from England

•Pilgrims had been persecuted in England for religious beliefs

•Established colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts

•Persevered despite difficulties

•Colony self-sufficient within 5 years

French and Indian War

•Both had Native American allies; English called it French and Indian War

•War began badly for British; French had more soldiers than English

•British turned tide, took city of Quebec