Spanish and French Colonies Review

A set of vocabulary flashcards comparing the goals, locations, and relationships of Spanish and French colonies in the Americas based on lecture notes.

Spanish Goal: Wealth and Power

To increase the nation’s wealth and power by exporting large quantities of gold and silver.

Spanish Global Status

By exporting gold and silver from the Americas, Spain became the most powerful nation in the world.

Spanish Religious Goals

To spread Christianity (specifically the Roman Catholic faith) by converting Native Americans.

Spanish Missions

Facilities set up by missionaries sent to convert the indigenous populations.

Spanish Treatment of Native Americans

Natives were treated terribly and utilized as slaves by the Spanish.

Spanish Colonial Locations

Controlled Central America, parts of North America, and most of South America, including territory that became Mexico, California, Texas, and Florida.

French Goal: Fur Trade

The primary economic activity involving the trading of fur, such as beaver pelts, with Native Americans.

French-Native Relationship

The French maintained a positive relationship with Native Americans.

French Religious Goals

A few missionaries converted Native Americans to the Roman Catholic faith.

New France

The name given to the French colonial territories in North America.

Quebec

A city founded by the French located in Eastern Canada.

Louisiana

The land spanning from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains, named after King Louis XIV.

New Orleans

A city founded by the French at the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Courier de Bois

The small population of male fur trappers that occupied French territories.

French Infrastructure

Consisted of very few cities but featured many forts and trading posts throughout their claimed territory.