Spring USHA Orientation And European Colonization

Cause: Columbus arrives in the Americas in 1492 on an exploration financed by the Spanish.

Effect: Spain becomes the first European Power to establish a permanent presence in the western hemisphere.

Spanish Explorers Wanted Gold/Land, To Glorify Spain, Gain Personal Wealth and Fame, and to Spread Catholicism.

Effect: Spanish conquistadors explored the Americas, claimed land for Spain, and forced Native Americans to convert to Christianity

Hernan Cortes, His Spanish Followers, and their Native American Allies begin a war with the Aztec.

Effect: The Spanish gain Control of Most of Present Day Mexico in 1521.

Francisco Pizzaro, His Spanish Followers, and their Native American Allies go to War with the Inca.

Effect: The Spanish Gain Control of much of western South America in 1533.

The Spanish Want to Make Money off their Empire through Mining and Agriculture.

Effect: Colonial Authorities introduce the Encomienda System where Native Americans are Placed Under the Control of Spanish Colonists.

Spanish Authorities want to Keep Power in the Hands of Europeans in their American Empire.

Effect: Colonial Authorities introduce the CASTA System which ranks colonists by race. A person’s Rank affects their Rights and Opportunities.

The Encomienda System granted control of land and its inhabitants, Native Americans, to Spanish colonists. Spanish colonists had to promise colonial authorities they would attempt to convert the Native Americans to Catholicism and that they would use their labor to generate profit for the Spanish Empire. Encomienda is one of several systems of forced labor used in the Spanish colonies.

The casta system developed to keep power in the hands of Europeans in the Spanish Empire.
People of full Spanish descent who were born in Spain had the most rights and power.
Colonial society was ranked, with fewer rights given to people who were less Spanish.
Mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and Native American descent, made up a large part of the population but had fewer rights than full Spaniards.

Cause: Spain Gained wealth and Power from their American Colonies.

Effect: Other European Powers like the French and Dutch are Eager to Colonize in the Americas.

Cause: Samuel Champlain explores the St. Lawrence River on behalf of the French Empire.

Effect: The French Establish Quebec in 1608.

Cause: The Dutch operate a global trading empire with colonies and trading posts in Africa and Asia.

Effect: The Dutch West Indies Company establishes the colony of New Netherland in 1621.

Cause: France Wanted to Profit from the Fur Trade.

Effect: The French Ally with the Huron in order to support the Fur Trade.

Cause: The Dutch Want to attract more settlement to their colony.

Effect: Authorities establish the patroonship system granting large amounts of land to individuals (Patroons) willing to pay to bring colonists to New Netherland.

Cause: European Partnerships with Native Americans for the purpose of Trade creates Alliances.

Effect: Economic alliances often led military alliances drawing European Powers into Native American Conflicts.

Cause: Dutch Tradition Leads to complete religious freedom in New Netherland.

Effect: New Netherland is a religiously and ethnically diverse colony.

Native Americans had knowledge of how and where to capture animals for the profitable fur trade that the French were eager to gain access to. Participation in the fur trade required Native American alliances for the French and other European powers.

The Dutch had a hard time attracting settlers to their colony so they created the patroonship system in order to get wealthy land holders, known as patroons, to finance the passage of colonists to New Netherland. The patroons would control their land and the labor of those they brought to the colony.