1. BELLWORK How did geography effect settlement of the Americas?
What happened to French territory after the Fr-Ind War?
How did Spanish treatment of indigenous populations differ from the British?
Who had stronger control of their colonies, England or Spain? How was the control of their colonies different? (Think about how they set up their government)
Compare/Contrast social divisions within Spanish and English colonies.
What was the goal of mercantilism?
THINKER: Historians continually debate the issue of Columbus’ “discovery.” Many scholars disagree with this term, and instead, use the more neutral term “encounter.” Which do you think is correct? Did Columbus discover or encounter America? Explain!

4. Spain and Portugal: European Rivals
SPAIN: Christopher Columbus
PORTUGAL: Amerigo Vespucci

5. Spain and Portugal: European Rivals
Both European powers fought for control over western ocean routes.
Christopher Columbus charted his voyage to the New World in 1492, representing Spain.
Amerigo Vespucci was on a Portuguese voyage in 1501 – his writings were distributed faster than Columbus, therefore having the world named after him.

6. June 7, 1494: Treaty of Tordesillas
Divided the newly discovered lands outside Europe between Portugal and Spain
The lands to the east would belong to Portugal and the lands to the west to Spain.
The treaty was ratified by both countries.
The other side of the world would be divided a few decades later by the Treaty of Zaragoza

8. Portuguese map of division: 1502

9. Portuguese Colonization
Why was Portugal the early leader of exploration? If they were so powerful, why did they have less colonies in comparison to England and Spain?
Joao Fernandes Lavrador visited the North Atlantic coast to establish fishing grounds
Claimed Newfoundland and Labrador for Portugal
unsuccessful in maintaining control so they abandoned their land to focus on South America
Pedro Alvares Cabral claimed Brazil for Portugal

11. Portuguese Exploration
Red – actual possessions
Orange – areas of influence; trade
Olive/Blue – areas of exploration
Green – trading posts
Pink – places of rule w/ self-government

12. Portuguese map of Brazil: 1519

13. Portuguese Control
Once established, the Portuguese government divided their territory into Captaincy colonies
These individual colonies were autonomous, and each was owned and run by a Captain-major
Unlike the Spanish colonies, Portuguese rule was relatively relaxed
Instead of focusing on control, Portugal aimed to provide a steady income for the Empire

14. Portuguese Empire

15. “The houses of these Indians are the most beautiful I have ever seen and I swear that the closer I get to the mainland, the better they become. They’re like grand pavilions, like royal tents in an encampment without streets. One here, another there. They are well swept and quite clean inside, and the furnishings are arranged in good order. All are built of very beautiful palm prances. This land is so beautiful, I could go on praising it forever.”
- Christopher Columbus
- October 12, 1492
- Upon first arrival in the New World (Bahamas)

16. Review
British vs. Spanish colonization

17. French Control of the Americas
In 1524, under the rule of King Francis I, Italian-born Giovanni da Verrazano explored the region between Florida and Newfoundland
Route to the Pacific Ocean
Wealth from resources (fur, lumber, fish)
In 1534, Francis sent Jacques Cartier on three voyages to explore the Eastern coast of Canada
Established colonies in Eastern Canada, central U.S. and the Caribbean

18. Originally, King Francis maintained strict control of the colonies (taxes & trade)
Slave ownership by the French was high, especially in the Caribbean.
divided by race
Since the majority of slaves worked on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, a lot of uprisings started here
French colonies, like Haiti, gained independence through slave revolts
By 1763, France had lost most of their territory to England in a series of six colonial wars (French-Indian War & Seven Years War)
French colonial population declined due to weather& disease
French Control

20. Discussion: Geography of the Americas
From the “Geography of the Americas” section….
What geographic obstacles did Europeans face in their colonization of Latin America?
How did the physical obstacles effect the government of Latin America?
Compare and contrast the geographical advantages/disadvantages between Spanish South America and British North America.
Why were bodies of water important to early settlements?
Which regions of the Americas were colonized by the British? Which regions of the Americas were colonized by the Spanish?