Section 3: The Spanish and Native Americans Miss King West Meck High

The Church and plantations are central features of Spanish colonial society.

In New Mexico and California the church built missions and the goal of the missions was to convert Native Americans to Christianity. The mission also increased Spanish control over the land.

Sugar plantations develop in the Americas and were large and raised much money for Spain. They forced Native Americans to work on the sugar plantations. These crops were exported to Europe. The plantations required many workers, Spaniards treated Native Americans terribly.

Columbian Exchange – the movement of living things between hemispheres

Exchange was the transfer of germs from Europe to the Americas Exchange was the transfer of germs from Europe to the Americas. Native Americans had no immunity to them.

But there were positive changes like the adaptation and domestication of plants …and animals.

Section 4: Beginnings of Slavery in the Americas Miss King West Meck High

Slavery arises in the colonies with the increasing demand for workers. The voyage from Africa to America is known as the middle passage. Some colonies establish slave codes to prevent rebellion.

By the 1600’s slavery (the practice of holding a person in bondage for labor) was firmly established in the Americas. When the Spaniards and Portuguese founded their colonies in the Americas they brought with them the plantation system. They tried to enslave the Native Americans to work in mines and fields but they quickly died from overworking and disease.

In some cases Native Americans rebelled with help from local allies In some cases Native Americans rebelled with help from local allies. They looked for other sources of labor. They finally enslaved Africans for labor.

4 Basic Reasons Why Europeans Enslaved Africans: 1. Africans are immune to most European diseases. 2. Africans had no friends or family in the America to help them resist or escape enslavement. 3. Africans provided a permanent source of cheap labor; even their children could be held in bondage. 4. Many Africans were farmers back in Africa.

Slavery began in the Americas to provide a labor force.

The voyage from Africa to the Americas was called the Middle Passage

It was a leg of the triangular trade route It was a leg of the triangular trade route. The triangular trade route refers to the movement of trade ships between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Zanromo Uvaile: It really is smelly in here. But then, it can't be helped, especially if we have to sit so close to each other and our toilet is just a small bucket at the end of the cell. Today a girl fell in it, and the smell was too much for her, so she fainted. The traders took her for dead, and threw her into the ocean.  The mother couldn't bear it. She wanted to have been thrown into the water as well, but the traders thought that she was strong, and that they would get good money for her in America.  We men have very less space. the man whose right foot has been changed to my left is horribly ill. Yesterday there was blood and some other black liquid in his phlegm. I don't know why he was chosen by the traders, or why they were stupid enough to chain a strong man like me to a dying man like him. But Mammy always said to keep my head high, to be strong, and so I will.       

The journey is taking longer than usual The journey is taking longer than usual. The meagre amount of food they are giving us is also running out. They say that I have a good strength and that I will do well in the cotton fields, whatever that means. All I am sure of is that I am going to the South. They told me that once I get there, I will start work right away, because otherwise I would be wasting time, and time, they say, is money. I have been prepared for this day since my father was taken 20 years ago. I was only 4 then. I wonder if I shall meet him. He was a very strong man too, I remember, so maybe they put him in the South. I vow that if anything should happen to him, I would not ever let the Massa live in peace.