Spain Builds an American Empire Chapter 4 Section 1 1492-1800
Main Ideas The vast wealth to be had from colonizing the Americas sealed the fate of millions of Native Americans and Africans who were forced to work in mines and on plantations. Over the span of several centuries, Europeans conquered the Americas’ native inhabitants and built powerful American empires.
The Voyages of Columbus Columbus left Spain on August 3, 1492. On October 12th, he reached what he thought was an island in the East Indies. He instead landed on an island in the Bahamas and claimed it for Spain.
First Encounters “They accepted anything and gave what they had with the utmost good will.” Columbus called the natives “Indians” and named the land San Salvador or “Holy Savior”. He found no gold. So, he began to island hop. Claiming each as he went along. “It was my wish to bypass no island without taking possession.”
Three More Trips Spain’s rulers were so pleased with the claims that they financed three more trips. Columbus now became an “empire builder”. Goal? Transform Caribbean islands into colonies.
Other Explorers Take to the Seas Amerigo Vespucci – traveled east coast of South America. Reported that land was a new world and not part of Asia. America was named after him. Ferdinand Magellan – Traveled west around the world. Trip took three years. His crew was the first to circumnavigate the world.
Spanish Conquests in Mexico Hernando Cortes – landed in Mexico in 1519. Marched inland for lands to claim for Spain. Spanish explorers who followed were called conquistadors.
Spanish Conquests (cont.) Conquistadors carved out areas in South America, Mexico and the U.S. Searching for gold and silver. Result? Spain greatly enriched their empire and left a mark on many cultures of North and South America that exists today.
Cortes Conquers the Aztecs Cortes soon learned of the Aztec’s wealthy empire. With his 600 men, he reached Tenochtitlan. Aztec emperor, Montezuma II, thought Cortes was a god. Gave Cortes gold. Told Montezuma that he and his men had a “disease of the heart that only gold can cure.”
Conquering the Aztecs The harmony between the two groups did not last. Cortes conquered the Aztecs in 1521. Weapons v. arrows Native assistance v. Native resistance Immunity v. Diseases
Spanish Conquests in Peru Francesco Pizarro – conquered Incas in South America in 1533. Kidnapped Incan ruler, Atahualpa. Incas paid a ransom of gold and silver but Inca ruler was killed anyway.
Spain’s Pattern of Conquest Spanish settlers in Americas were mostly men. Relationships with native women. Mestizo = mixed Oppressed natives Forced to work land for landlords – encomienda. Abused natives and worked them to death, literally.
The Portuguese in Brazil Brazil had stayed outside of Spanish control. No gold or silver → grow sugar Europeans were demanding large quantities of sugar. Colonists kept pushing west and clearing more land for sugar.
Conquistadors Push North Ponce de Leon claimed Florida for Spain in 1513. The Fountain of Youth