European Colonies in the Americas

Open Ended

Consider the driving question: How did Europeans conquer empires in the Americas?

Rank the lists below with 1 being the most important and 8 being the least.

For European advantages, rank which were the most important.

Open Ended

Consider the driving question: How did Indigenous people resist?

Rank the lists below with 1 being the most important and 8 being the least.

For Indigenous resistance, rank the strategies that you imagine would have been most effective.

Open Ended

Which European advantages do you predict will be the most impactful in the conquest of the Americas? Explain your rationale for these top two.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following terms best describes a person of mixed ancestry, usually with one Spanish parent and one Indigenous parent?

• Conquistador

• Mestizo

• Missionary

• Viceroy

Multiple Choice

Which two European powers led the early colonization of the Americas in the 1500s?

• a) England and France

• b) Spain and Portugal

• c) Netherlands and Russia

• d) Italy and Germany

Multiple Choice

What industries helped Spain and Portugal grow wealthy in the Americas?

• Wool and cotton manufacturing

• Shipbuilding and banking

• Iron smelting and construction

• Sugar production, silver mining, and dye making

Open Ended

What methods did the King of Spain use to control the huge territory of New Spain?

Open Ended

What were the two so-called “republics” in the Spanish colonies?

Multiple Choice

Which empires followed Spain and Portugal in the Americas, and how were they different?

• a) The English, French, and Dutch — they often focused on trade and Protestant missions

• b) The Ottoman and Mughal — they focused on mining and sugar

• c) The Germans and Russians — they were allies of Spain

• d) The Italians — they built coastal colonies in Africa

Open Ended

Based on the reading, which method of control—political, economic, social, or cultural—do you think was most effective in helping Spain keep power in its colonies?

Explain your reasoning with two examples from the text.

Exit Ticket — European Colonies in the Americas

Directions:

1. Open ET: European Colonies in the Americas in Google Classroom.

2. Complete all 5 multiple-choice questions and 1 short-answer question (SAQ).

3. Submit your responses before the end of class.

Criteria for Success (for the SAQ):

Prompt:

According to the text European Colonies in the Americas, what methods of political, social, economic, or cultural control did Spain use to maintain power in New Spain?
Use two pieces of evidence from the reading to support your response.

You will be successful if you:
✅ Make a clear claim (choose one main method of control).
✅ Use two specific examples from the text.
✅ Explain how those examples helped Spain keep power (not just list them).
✅ Write in your own words using complete sentences.