Colonial Interactions

Spanish Interactions with Natives Because of the desire for the riches of the New World, European powers would do whatever they could to extract the resources– often times at the cost of the native populations. Review: what area of the present-day US did the Spanish settle/colonize? - Southwestern (CA, NV, NM, AZ) and Southeast (FL) The Spanish utilized the encomienda system to their advantage. Under the encomienda system, conquistadors and other leaders (encomenderos) received grants of a number of Indians, from whom they could exact “tribute” in the form of gold or labor. The encomenderos were supposed to protect and Christianize the Indians granted to them, but they most often used the system to effectively enslave the Indians and take their lands.

Spanish Interactions with Natives Soon, Spanish cities grew and flourished in North America. The Spanish began to fortify their borderlands to block other European powers. This was accomplished by converting natives to Christianity (namely– Catholicism) However, the natives were not always subjugated easily. One such instance became known as Pope’s Rebellion, or the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. The natives were tired of their religious customs being taken away, so they revolted. They burned churches, killed priests and drove settlers from the province of New Mexico. It would take ~50 years for the Spanish to regain the territory.

Summary of Spanish Interaction The Spanish had a huge lead on American colonization over the English and other European countries. Eventually, the Spanish intermarried and mixed cultures with the native populations. Origin of the mestizo population– mixed race (generally Spanish and native) From this, a strict hierarchy emerged. Beginnings of Spanish empire in the Americas.

Establishment of English Colonies England fell behind re: colonization due to the Protestant Reformation. Break from the Catholic church Elizabeth I made England fully Protestant (~1560s) Rivalry with Spain need colonies!!! First attempt– Roanoke Island in 1585 Led by Sir Walter Raleigh Ultimately failed ‘Lost Colony’ English defeat of Spanish Armada in 1588 led to a peace treaty between England and Spain, opening the Atlantic for exploration.

Establishment of English Colonies Two main reasons for the English to come to the New World: Hoped to find wealth; Wanted religious freedom Unlike the Spanish and French, the English utilized joint stock companies. Investors pooled money to finance colonies Virginia Company financed Jamestown; founded in 1607 Led by John Smith “He who does not work, does not eat.” Guided colony through ‘starving time’ (1609) Saved by tobacco crop-- John Rolfe

Resistance from the Natives Much like the Spanish, the English settlers encountered resistance from the native populations as well. Mainly over land and religious disputes. Tension between Virginia settlers and Powhatan Confederacy Powhatan Wars (1614 and 1622) Conflict in New England between settlers and local tribes King Philip’s War (1675-1676) Signified first major armed conflict between natives and colonists.

Types of Colonies The thirteen original colonies were established in a variety of ways. Proprietary Founded by groups or individual who King gave land to (usually in return for political or financial favors) Maryland; Pennsylvania; Delaware Royal Colonies governed directly by King or appointed royal governor Virginia (later); the Carolinas; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Georgia Charter King grants charter– group decides how colony will be governed Rhode Island; Connecticut; Massachusetts The colonies were founded around the central idea of mercantilism. An economic system in which nations seek to increase their wealth by utilizing their colonies for trade and resources.