Comparison of European Settlement in New World

Comparison of European Settlement Directions : Compare and Contrast the settlement of the New World by European nations (Portugal, Spain, Great Britain, France) by recording notes from the lecture to identify and explain distinctive characteristics of colonial rule in the three geographical regions below. Use the categorical/thematic points of comparison provided to organize your claim statement at the conclusion. Context In the half-century after Columbus’ discovery of the New World in 1492, European explorers continued their search for a quicker route to Asia but instead found established Native civilizations and ample economic opportunities that would fuel increasing European colonialism in the Americas throughout the 17 th and 18 th centuries Point of Comparison In the Lands of Aztecs and the Incas Colonies of Sugar Settler Colonies in North America European State and Settlement Location - Spain established kingdom of New Spain in 1519 (Cortes), 1532 (Pizarro), and 1540s (Coronado) - Conquistadores were not professional soldiers yet saw themselves as royalty in the New World - Portugal - Brazil - Spain, Great Britain, France, Caribbean and S. British colonies - Treaty of Tordesillas - 1494 Papal decree =>line dividing trading posts and such - British - Atlantic Coast (13 og continents) =>jamestown and plymouth - French - North Atlantic (Canada) =>Cartier and Champlain Economic Activity - Haciendas - commercial agriculture on Spanish prop. - Mining precious metals - Encomienda system = labor system =>part feudalism and slavery =>use of est. “mita” incan system - Plantation economies - sugar =>labor intensive - mining gold - fuels growth of African slave trade when native pop. decline - expansion to other cash crops - small scale family farms - fur trade and timber =>caused less need for labor - Mercantilism - export of goods and resources to mother country Social Demographics - majority male, few spanish women - “casta” social hierarchy of peninsulares, criollos, mestizos, mulattos - increasing diversity and indigenous population decline - euro/white plantation- owners dominate - slaves at bottom - variety in between - majority African and mixed pop. - 5x the number of British settlers - sharply defined hierarchy - internal pop. growth - Native American tribes pushed forward Miscellaneous (other Cultural and Political characteristics) - Spanish mission in CA =>est. 1769-1833 =>religious conversion and settlement outposts =>extended spanish empire in New Spain and Atla CA - political admin =>staffed by regional governors and lawyers, missionaries run ranches and school, euro conflicts affect control over Brazil -Gov’ts control economic production - capital of Rio de Janeiro closer to the mines - less emphasis on religious conversion of Native pop. contrasted with Spain - est. of self-gov’t under system of salutary neglect =>will create pre-conditions for independence movements