1. A New World, Many Cultures
Period 1:
A New World, Many Cultures

2. Original Discovery
The original discovery, exploration and settlement of North and South America occurred at least 10,000 years before Columbus
First European explorers were the vikings and Leif Erikson and arrived in the year 1,000.
The first Americans evolved into hundreds of tribes, languages and cultures.
The estimated number of Native peoples in North and South America range anywhere from million people

3. Reasons for Colonization
Religious conflicts between Catholics/Protestants
Economic competition between Africa, India, China and Europe
Slaves to work sugar plantations
Rise of Nation-States: empires and kingdoms crumble in favor of nation-states (people who share a common culture and loyalty)
Spread of Christianity

4. The Spanish
Spain and Portugal the first European kingdoms to claim territories in the Americas
Conquistadors conquered the Incas in Peru, Aztecs in Mexico and circled the globe
Hernan Cortes: Conquers the Aztecs (Mexico)
Francisco Pizarro: Conquers the Inca in Peru
Ferdinand Magellan: Circles the world

5. Conquistadors
Conquistadors loaded ships with gold and silver from Mexico and Peru and made Spain the richest and most powerful country in the world
Spain’s success encourages other countries to head to the New World
Encomienda system: King of Spain gives grants of land and natives to individual Spaniards
Disease and brutality drastically reduce the Native People and the Spanish bring in slaves from West Africa under the asiento system
Asiento system: Spanish pay a tax to their king for every slave they import

6. Spanish Settlements
Florida: Permanent settlement of St. Augustine in Oldest city in America founded by Europeans
New Mexico: Harsh efforts to Christianize the Pueblo leads to violence and revolt in 1680
Texas: Spanish want to cut the French off from the Mississippi River
California: Missions are built, response to the Russians exploring Alaska

7. Spanish Treatment of Natives
Many died from forced labor
Spanish intermarry with natives and Africans
Rigid class system is formed by pure-blooded Spaniards
Bartolome de Las Casas: Dissented from the views of most Europeans toward Natives
An advocate for better treatment of Natives
New Laws of 1542: Ended Indian slavery and forced labor, ends the encomienda system
Valladolid Debate: Argument for/against better treatment of Natives in Spain

9. The English
England arrives in 1497 from the voyages of John Cabot and explored Newfoundland
England does not follow up immediately due to internal struggles
Sir Walter Raleigh founded Roanoke, the first English colony of North America
“The Lost Colony”
Roanoke is abandoned, unsure of what happened to the people who lived there
England does not begin to colonize North America seriously until 1600

10. The English Treatment of Natives
The English arrive more as families, marriage with Natives is far fewer
Initially in the Northeast, Natives and English get along and share ideas
How to grow crops, hunt, grow maize, trade furs
Relationship deteriorates and English see Natives as “savages” or “primitive”
Open warfare between the two sides
English did not enslave Natives but rather expelled them from land or killed them

11. The French
French want to find a passage that leads from America to Asia
Slow to develop colonies like the English
Settle in present day northeast Canada along the St. Lawrence
French Explorers:
Jacques Cartier: Explores the St. Lawrence River
Samuel de Champlain: Establishes first permanent French settlement, New Quebec in 1608.
Relationship with Natives:
The French view Natives as potential economic and military allies
Want furs and to spread Catholicism
Maintained good relations with Natives (compared to British and Spanish)
Had fewer people colonizing and seen as less of a threat

12. The Dutch
The Dutch hire Henry Hudson to seek a passage from America to Asia
Discovers a large river and is named after him (Hudson River)
The Dutch establish themselves in present day New York (called New Amsterdam)

13. Colonization by 1600