1. Colonial Societies in the Americas

2. Mercantilism
Governments should serve their countries’ economic interests
Colonies exist to serve the mother country

3. Colonial societies differed
Differences in the nature of the colonizing power
Differences in the economy established in the colony
Differences in the character of the Native American cultures
The different people who settled in the colony
These differences influenced the development of each colony

4. The Spanish Empire
Located in the wealthiest part of the western hemisphere Captured from the Aztecs and Incas 1520s and 1530s Hernando Cortez Francisco Pizarro

5. Peru And Mexico
Economy based on commercial agriculture and silver and gold mining Encomienda System – Spanish government forced Natives to work in fields and mines The Hacienda System – private land owners directly employ Native workers

6. A New Society Hierarchy determined by class, race, & gender
Spanish = 20% of population
Creoles – born in New World
Peninsulares – born in Spain
Mestizo – Mixed Race
Native Americans

7. Brazil and the Caribbean
Brazil ruled by Portugal Spanish, British, French, Dutch in Caribbean

8. Sugar Plantations Millions of slaves imported to produce it
80% of slaves from Africa ended up in Brazil and the Caribbean
Nasty work – high death rate
By 1800 the vast majority of Brazil had some African blood
By 1790, 93% of Haiti had some African blood

9. British North America Southern Colonies Plantation slavery
Tobacco, rice, indigo, cotton
Slaves reproduce themselves

10. British North America Northern Colonies
The last colonies to be established
Least desirable land

11. Northern colonies – most unique
90% of colonists were European Very few Native Americans Very few slaves Church and state not so closely united Wide-spread landownership Mass literacy Traditions of local self-government