1. Spanish Colonies Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas in 1492.
Hernan Cortes will conquer Mexico from the Aztecs in 1519.
Francisco Pizarro will conquer the Incas in South America in

2. The primary export of Spain’s colonies in America will be gold and silver. Main activity is mining/farming.
Encomienda system results in harsh treatment of natives.
Spain has the worst native relationships of all the powers.
Spanish Colonies

3. Portuguese Colonies
Thanks to Henry the Navigator, becomes the first country to claim colonies.
Puts its focus on sailing south around Africa to India.
Most of Portugal’s colonies are located on the Coast of Africa.
Treaty of Tordesillas prevents Portugal from expanding in the Americas beyond Brazil.

4. Portuguese Colonies
Primary exports will be spices, jewels, and luxuries. Main activity is trading.
Portugal depends on trade for its exports, so it has to have good relations with native populations.
One exception is slavery in Africa.

5. New France
Champlain will establish New France. Quebec was its capital.
First looking for gold and silver like Spain. They didn’t find any.
Main exports were fish and furs. Main activity was trading/fishing.
Depended on native populations for hunting furs. France had the best native relations of all the powers.

6. Dutch Colonies The Netherlands is part of Spain until 1600.
They had few colonies because of this late start.
They have a colony in North America called New Netherlands. It will become modern day New York.

7. Dutch Colonies
They will acquire Portugal’s colonies in the East Indies.
Their primary exports are spices, jewels, and luxury goods. Main activity was trading.
They depend on trading, so they have good relations with natives.

8. The English will establish their first colony at Jamestown, Virginia.
They are searching for gold, but don’t find any.
They will claim the East Coast of the United States
Their primary exports will be tobacco, fish, and rum. Main activity is farming/fishing.
They will go to war with the natives in their colonies as they push them off the land.
English Colonies