European Colonization

Spanish Colonization

• Ferdinand and Isabella

Encomienda System

• Feudal (Political and Social) arrangement where indigenous people were essentially slaves. The number of Indians depended on amount given to you by title (as given by the King and Queen). Exposed by Bartolome De Las Casas and later abandoned by the Crown, replaced with a new system.

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Mission System

• Later system of labor and Spanish religious conversion (from 1500s – 1800’s) of Native Americans, as well as attempt to “Spanish-ize” the Indians and hold land for Spain. Not brutal; intent was to convert, organize, teach natives but it DID force relocation of groups which was not pleasant. Results / levels of success were mixed.

Spanish Mission

While less brutal and not compulsory,

missions intended to educate natives

on how to be Spanish/Catholic. It was

not open to the existence of other cult-

ures: it’s goal was to convert you while you

learned European skills, language, dress,

culture, etc

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Spanish Colonialism

• Reserved for the richest, noble people of higher standing.
• Reasons of God, Gold and Glory (3gs)
• Majority of people coming were soldiers attached to Conquistadors and / or wealthy, nobles trying to strike it rich and then go back home (temporary domination)
• This differed from other Nations’ intentions and patterns of settlement

Fill in the blanks

Unlike the Spanish, who led __________________ tended by hundreds of _________________ and never really establishing _______________________ settlements, the English brought unskilled ___________________ who were asked to create permanent fortifications and provide _______________ as well as search for __________________.

Expeditions

Soldiers

Permanent

laborers

food

riches

Fill in the Blanks - Warmup

• English were unable to colonize earlier due to Spanish ___________ of the _________________, as well as the fact that England had become __________________, and not _______________.

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Control

Atlantic

Protestant

Catholic

Once the Spanish _________________ had been defeated in 1588 the English were more free to colonize, but the competition was still rather thick and ___________________ for those wishing to go to the New World, even after ________ , when England and Spain officially ended conflict.

Armada

dangerous

1606

English Colonization

Class and Labor

• The Headright System, or Indentured Servitude
• Manner of acquiring labor as well as help populate the colonies
• Lower class, unemployed of England had expensive trans-Atlantic passage paid for by wealthy people in the colonies
• The servant would work for a contracted amount of time (7-10 yrs) and be released with a sum of money
• The idea was that the servant would then use that money to purchase cheap land on the frontier
• Horrible Conditions (think rental car): servants were beaten, whipped, starved, etc and many servants died before being able to collect their money and be freed

Primary Purpose

• Had envied Spain for all the riches they were able to produce/find
• Wanted to copy Spain’s successes, but could not… WHY?
• 16th century: Protestant England > Catholic Spain
• Win right to navigate the open Atlantic – they go to war, in many ways and types
• Early English exploration had already been done along the northern coast for lumber, fish, tar, pitch, etc.
• The TYPE of expedition and people is what made the difference: Spain had sent nobility backed up with military power (none intended to stay)
• England sent Joint Stock Companies with laborers being indentured servants, unemployed “vagrants”

Roanoke: the Lost Colony

• STARTED FOR PROFIT
• Expedition (pushed on by advertisers and promoters) started in 1587
• John White was the leader and major investor, brought his family
• Returned to England to get supplies, but…
• By the time the expedition returned, they were all gone

Jamestown 1607

• STARTED FOR PROFIT - Business venture
• Reached the Powhatan Indians (10,000 strong), & depended heavily upon them
• Tensions between them and the Powhatan helped lead to the “starving time” in the winter of 1609-1610
• Resorted to Cannibalism, 60 of original 300 survived
• Eventually became permanent, planting Tobacco to become successful

Plymouth Colony 1620

• Started by Protestants seeking to separate from the Anglican (English) Church – felt they had become too “Catholic”
• Deeply religious individuals committed to creating a Utopian, Christian society they would call “A City Upon a Hill”
• NOT STARTED FOR PROFIT
• John Winthrop and William Bradford were early religious leaders
• Also had a difficult time until the local natives intervened
• Credited with having the first “Thanksgiving”, an image of Christian legacy

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