Colonizing New Spain

Colonizing New Spain

by Chuck Mallard

​Objective

​Discuss the evolution of the Spanish empire in the Americas - from direct rule by conquistadors to an organized imperial system with three types of settlements: pueblos, presidios, and missions.

​Colonizing New Spain

• ​Conquistadors set up colonies in many parts of the Americas.

• ​Why did Spain set up colonies?

  • ​Wealth - settlements provided bases from which expeditions could set out in search of gold.

  • ​Settlements could also create wealth through farming and trade.

  • ​Spread Christianity - converting native peoples.

  • ​Adventure and exploration - this was very appealing to many Spanish.

  • ​Spanish exploration can be summarized as "Gold, God, and Glory."

​Colonizing New Spain

• ​Thousands of Spanish immigrants moved to Spanish settlements looking for opportunities the colonies offered, especially farming.

• ​At first, Spain let the conquistadors govern the lands they conquered.

• ​The conquistadors were bad rulers, so the Spanish king took away their authority.

• ​The Spanish king divided the American lands into New Spain and Peru.

• ​Set of laws called the Laws of the Indies stated how the colonies should be organized and ruled.

Multiple Choice

At first who did the King of Spain let rule the conquered lands in the Americas?

• Governors

• Viceroys

• Conquistadors

• Mayors

Multiple Choice

Which one is not a reason for Spain to colonize the Americas?

• Religious tolerance

• Gold

• Farming

• Exploration

Multiple Choice

The King of Spain divided his American lands into which two regions?

• New Mexico and Arizona

• Mexico and Columbia

• New Spain and Peru

• Florida and California

Multiple Choice

Which profession did most Spanish immigrants pursue?

• Merchants

• Professional Soldiers

• Factory Workers

• Farming

Multiple Choice

Which religion did the Spanish want to spread to the native peoples?

• Islam

• Christianity

• Judaism

• Buddhism

Multiple Choice

What did the Laws of the Indies state?

• How the colonies should be organized and ruled.

• How the Indies would be governed.

• How the Spanish King would gain gold.

• How the Native Indians would be sold into slavery.

​Spanish Settlements

• ​Spain established many settlements and many were built in a similar pattern.

• ​Pueblos (or towns), were centers of farming and trade.

• ​In the middle of the town was a plaza (or public square). Here, townspeople and farmers came to do business or worship at the church.

• ​Shops and homes lined the four sides of the plaza.

• ​The Spanish took control of Indian pueblos and built new towns as well.

• ​New Mexico in America was taken by the Spanish from the Pueblo Indian tribe.

• ​Santa Fe became the Spanish capital of New Mexico.

​Spanish Settlements

• ​Presidios were forts where soldiers lived. Inside the high, thick walls were shops, stables, and storehouses for food.

• ​Soldiers protected the farmers who settled nearby.

• ​The first presidio was built at St. Augustine, Florida. St. Augustine was the first permanent European settlement in what would become the United States.

​Spanish Settlements

• ​The Spanish believed that they had a duty to convert Native Indians to Christianity.

• ​Missions were set up run by the Catholic priests and friars whose goal was to convert Indians to Christianity.

• ​The Spanish often forced Indians to live and work on the missions.

• The Spanish tried to destroy any trace of traditional Indian religious practices and subjected them to serve punishments.

• ​Missions gradually spread across the Spanish borderlands such as Texas, Arizona, and California.

Multiple Choice

Which one is not a Spanish settlement?

• Missions

• Presidios

• Township

• Pueblos

Multiple Choice

Who was in charge of Spanish missions?

• Monks and Holy men

• Priests and Friars

• Pastors and Bishops

• Viceroys and Governors

Multiple Choice

Missions spread across the Spanish borderlands except...

• California

• Arizona

• Texas

• Illinois

Multiple Choice

The main purpose of the Spanish missions was to ...

• Foster traditional Indian religious practices

• Help the Indians gain their independence

• Help immigration to New Spain

• Convert Indians to Christianity

Multiple Choice

Pueblos are also known as ...

• Forts

• Towns

• Plazas

• Shops

Multiple Choice

Pueblos were centers of...

• Farming and trade

• Fishing and Industry

• Architecture and the Fine Arts

• Literature and Shipbuilding

Multiple Choice

Which one was not inside Presidios?

• Storehouses for food

• Stables

• Public Squares

• Shops

Multiple Choice

Who lived inside Presidios?

• Friars

• Soldiers

• Priests

• Farmers

Multiple Choice

Where was the first Presidio in the present day U.S. located?

• Santa Fe, New Mexico

• San Diego, California

• El Paso, Texas

• St. Augustine, Florida