Pre-Columbian America, European Exploration and Spanish Conquest

Introduction to the Colonial Period What were the motivations of the original colonists? Material wealth, freedom from religious persecution NOT to start a new country.

Introduction to the Colonial Period ctnd. How did the colonists start to view themselves as an independent nation? Had things in common: Most English speaking Wanted to create an agricultural society Wanted to get rid of royal tyranny and social hierarchy Accepted ideals of liberty, self-government, and religious toleration Shared a willingness to oppress others: Native Americans and Blacks

Introduction to the Colonial Period ctnd. What were some divisions among the colonists? Thirteen colonies very different New England, Middle, and Plantation colonies Why did America begin to break away from England? Colonists caught in the middle of French/British rivalry in North America At certain point, didn’t need British protection, resented high taxes. Increasing colonial unity throughout the colonial period!!!

The Shaping and Peopling of North America How did North America get the shape it has today? Pangaea Continental shifting and folding—separated continents and created landmasses of today How and when did the first Americans arrive on the continent? Crude boat theory Most widely accepted Bering Strait (35,000-10,000 years ago) Migrations to South America (by 1492, 54 million people in both continents)

First American Civilizations Central America: Sophisticated civilizations Incas Mayans Aztecs What was the role of agriculture? People settled where they could grow staple crops CORN: first major source of food in Mexico Absence of agriculture explains lack of sophisticated and unified native populations in North America.

North American Native Populations Smaller, more scattered populations Ex. Mound Builders in Ohio River Valley, settlement of Cahokia, Anasazis After 1000 A.D., developments in agriculture in North helped native populations grow. Iroquois: largest, most sophisticated native population in North America. Small size and lack of unity meant natives in North especially vulnerable to European conquest.

Who were the “indirect discoverers” of the New World? Scandinavians in 1000 A.D. Christian Crusaders (1000-1300)—created cravings for exotic goods and shorter route to Asia. Marco Polo’s tales of China (1295) Portuguese advances: Caravel and special routes that could get them to Africa and back

How did the slave trade begin? Portuguese set up trading posts along West African coast—to purchase gold and slaves Slave trade had already started between Arabs and Africans Portuguese sped up slave trade—used labor to work sugar plantations on African coastal islands. Set up a system that Spain would later use when it began to colonize New World.

Why did Spain take the lead in European exploration in 1492? Unification under Ferdinand and Isabella Expulsion of the Moors Spanish eager to prove their power over Portuguese by exploring West. Impact of Renaissance New technology: printing press, compass SPAIN HAD THE UNITY, WEALTH AND POWER TO UNDERGO DISCOVERY AND CONQUEST.

What was the impact of Columbus’s voyages? Voyage huge mistake: Thought he would find shorter route to Asia (the Indies), then hit America! Set up a new global, interdependent economy: Europe: provided markets, money and technology Africa: labor New World: Raw materials

The Columbian Exchange From the Old World: Wheat, sugar, rice, coffee, HORSES, cows, DISEASE!!! From the New World: GOLD, SILVER, corn, potatoes, tobacco IMPACT: In the centuries after Columbus’s arrival, about 90% of Native Americans killed.

The Spanish Conquistadores Spain won domination of New World with Treaty of Tordesillas with Portugal (1494) Spanish conquistadors went to Caribbean and New World for two reasons: To serve God For gold and glory Exploration in North America (Coronado, de Leon) Conquest in South America (Pizarro and Incas, Cortes and Aztecs)

The Spanish in America Empire grew quickly—esp. in Peru and Mexico Competition with other powers for land (esp. French) led Spanish to build forts St. Augustine in Florida (1565) Spanish began exploring North—settlements in New Mexico in 1609, Texas in 1716, San Diego in 1769

Spanish Treatment of Native Americans Used Caribbean islands as bases for American conquest Began encomienda system in West Indies: enslavement of native population Missions: to Christianize and civilize Indians. Resistance among Native Americans: Pueblo Revolt in New Mexico Black Legend? Spanish empire v. British empire