1. Europeans in North America
Section 2.1

2. Main Idea
In the 1500s and 1600s, European nations, led by Spain, continued to explore, claim territory, and build settlements in America.

3. Conquistadors Spanish for conquerors
These explorers followed in the path of Columbus
Often very brutal to the American Indians.

4. Ponce de Leon
1513: While searching for the “fountain of youth”, Leon becomes the 1st European to explore what will become the US.
His travels take him through Florida
Never found “fountain”

5. Hernan Cortes Explored modern Mexico
Wowed the Aztec people with horses, armor, and guns.
His arrival coincided with the Aztec myth of the return of their God Quetzalcoatl.
Aztecs welcomed him, gave him gifts of gold.
He soon turned on them, and with only a few hundred men defeated the smallpox plagued Aztecs.
His stories of “cities of gold” drove others to push into N America.

6. Cortes

7. St. Augustine
Oldest city in what is today the US.
Founded in 1565

8. New Spain’s Social Structure
Peninsulares: Top of society; People born in Spain that moved to New World
Creoles: People born in New World of 2 Spanish parents.
Mestizos: People born of Spanish and Indian parents.
Bottom: Indians, Africans, and other mixed peoples.
Peninsulares
Creoles
Mestizos

9. Missionaries
The Spanish sent Catholic Missionaries to convert Indians.
Indians also learned Spanish language, farming, and other useful crafts.
Indians were often forced to work for the missionaries, or executed.

10. Encomienda Spanish nobles were given large tracts of land.
They were allowed to enslave the Indians and force them to work on their plantations.
As AI populations decreased from disease, the Spanish began importing African slaves.

11. New France The French explored what is today Canada.
In 1608 France founded Quebec, their 1st settlement.