Chapter 4: Spain Builds an Empire Lesson 2: Life in New Spain John J. Vida 5 th Grade Social Studies

Spanish expansion

Looking for gold and riches…

The Search for Gold

In 1540, as Hernando de Soto & 700 men look for North American city of Cibola (Cities of Gold), but never found it Became 1 st European to reach the Mississippi River in 1540 De Soto held African sailor slave, Estéban,, who had once served explorer Álvar Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca

The Search for Gold Conquistador, Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca traveled through Southwest of US (what is now Texas) for eight years Survived a ship wreck off the coast of Texas with Estaban

The Search for Gold Francisco Vasquez de Coronado explored the American Southwest in 1540 The governor of New Spain send him to find Cibola No expedition ever found the legendary city, because they did not exist

The Search for Gold Landed on the Florida peninsula in 1513 Connected with the legend of the Fountain of Youth

Society in New Spain End of 1500s marked end on most Spanish/ NA wars b/c Spanish were so powerful; Colonist move in A new way of life, and a new society was developing in New Spain Society – a group of people forming a community What are some examples of communities?

Society in New Spain New Spain society ruled by peninsulares (people born in Spain)… Then creoles (of Spanish background, but born in American)… Below that mestizos (Spanish/Indian people)… And lastly those with no Spanish ancestors like Africans and full blood North Americans

Society in New Spain

The peninsulares were wealthy and powerful. Some owned plantations Plantations – large farms with many workers who lived on the land they worked Other peninsulares received grants called encomienda

Society in New Spain Encomienda – A grant to peninsulares by the Spanish crown for control of all of the native peoples who lived on an area of land With this they could put the natives to work. Were supposed to care for natives & convert to Christianity In turn, the native peoples had to give encomienda owners crops that they grew and other goods Colonists in cities were merchants, government workers, tradesmen with small shops for woodworking or clothes making, or shopkeepers

Society in New Spain

Encomienda – A grant to peninsulares by the Spanish crown for control of all of the native peoples who lived on an area of land With this they could put the natives to work. Were supposed to care for natives & convert to Christianity In turn, the native peoples had to give encomienda owners crops that they grew and other goods

More Changes for Native Peoples One type of encomienda was run by Romans Catholic missionaries missionary – a missionary teaches his or her religion to others who have different beliefs. Built missions throughout New Spain mission – a religious settlement where missionaries live and work. Purpose was to teach native peoples about Christianity Also taught European farming practices such as raising cattle & sheep.

More Changes for Native Peoples Natives had to give up their traditional ways of life and become Christians. Some missions treated them cruelly Bartolome de Las Casas – A priest who spoke out against the mistreatment of native peoples under the care of the church In 1527 he wrote out angrily about what he had seen in the encomiendas

More Changes for Native Peoples Bartolome de Las Casa’s letter: “[the native peoples] die or lead lives harsher than death. They have been split into shares as if they were herds of cattle or sheep; that is [divided] among the Spaniards and assigned by a specific number to each become their slaves.” Spain did pass laws in 1542 saying native peoples had to be paid for their work but it was never enforced and later cancelled.

Slavery in the Americas Slaves brought to the Caribbean Island of Hispaniola in 1512 by Spanish to replace North American slaves who were dying from disease and overwork Las Casas first ok with African slaves, then saw it was the same as NA, and changed his mind Slavery became an important part of the colonial economy, slave numbers increased, and they suffered with death and overwork just as NA did Colonial plantations & mines created great wealth for Spain. In 1600’s, were one of worlds top powers

Lesson 2 Review: 1. Fill in either the missing dates or events from this time line: DateEvent __________First Africans arrive in Hispaniola __________de Leon’s 1 st expedition to Florida 1527_____________________________ __________De Sota reaches the Mississippi River

Lesson 2 Review: 1. Fill in either the missing dates or events from this time line: DateEvent 1512First Africans arrive in Hispaniola 1513de Leon’s 1 st expedition to Florida 1527_____________________________ __________De Sota reaches the Mississippi River

Lesson 2 Review: 1. Fill in either the missing dates or events from this time line: DateEvent 1512First Africans arrive in Hispaniola 1513de Leon’s 1 st expedition to Florida 1527Bartolome de Las Casas defends the native peoples __________De Sota reaches the Mississippi River

Lesson 2 Review: 1. Fill in either the missing dates or events from this time line: DateEvent 1512First Africans arrive in Hispaniola 1513de Leon’s 1 st expedition to Florida 1527Bartolome de Las Casas defends the native peoples 1540De Sota reaches the Mississippi River

Lesson 2 Review: 2. How did stories about Cibola affect Spanish explorers?

Lesson 2 Review: 2. How did stories about Cibola affect Spanish explorers? Explorers set out to find this rich & fabulous place, which led to further discoveries in the Americas

Lesson 2 Review: 3. How did the structure of society in New Spain benefit the Spanish?

Lesson 2 Review: 3. How did the structure of society in New Spain benefit the Spanish? The rich Spanish landowners were able to gain more wealth because of slave labor.

Lesson 2 Review: 4. How did conquest by the Spanish change life for native peoples?

Lesson 2 Review: 4. How did conquest by the Spanish change life for native peoples? The native peoples lost their traditional way of life. Many were enslaved, while others lived on missions and converted to Christianity

Lesson 2 Review: 4. Summarize the point of view of Las Casas about native peoples on the encomiendas?

Lesson 2 Review: 4. Summarize the point of view of Las Casas about native peoples on the encomiendas? Bartolome de Las Casas believed that mistreatment of slaves was wrong, so he persuaded Spain to pass laws under which native peoples had to be paid

READY!?!?