Spanish Conquest and Colonization of the Americas

11/22/23

Identify THREE reasons why the Spanish conquered Native American civilizations quickly and easily.

Conquistadors had horses, armor, and superior weapons.

Enemies of the Aztecs were willing to fight with the Spanish.

Infectious diseases carried by the Spanish killed or weakened most Native American warriors.

Identify THREE ways in which the Spanish and Native Americans were impacted by Spanish conquests.

A rapid increase in Spain's reserves of gold and silver,

The rapid decline in the Native American population,

The mixing of Native American and Spanish cultures.

Explain what was done to attract settlers to Spain's American territories.

Spanish men willing to leave Spain and settle in one of Spain's American territories were granted a large tract of land and Native American slaves to work it. (Encomienda System)

Explain what one's place in Spanish colonial society was based on, identify each social group in Spanish colonial society, and identify the role of each group.

One's place in Spanish colonial society was based on ethnicity and birthplace. The more Spanish you were, the higher the social group you were. Peninsulares were 100 percent Spanish, being born in Spain as well which made them the highest on the social group. Peninsulares were encomenderos, land and property owners.

Creoles were also 100 percent Spanish but were born in America. If you were a creole, your job was to manage the ranches, farms, and plantations owned by Peninsulares.

Mestizos are 50 percent Spanish and were born in America. Their job was to work on ranches, farms, and plantations for a slim amount of money.

Native Americans are 0 percent Spanish and were born in America. Their role is to be a slave on ranches, farms, and plantations.

Identify THREE duties performed by Catholic clergymen in Spain's American colonies.

Administering the sacraments

Leading worship services

Converting Native Americans to Catholicism

Explain the circumstances that led to Spain importing African slaves to its American colonies.

Conflict: A Spanish missionary, Father de las Casas was repulsed by what he saw as the harsh and unchristian treatment of Native American slaves by Spanish landowners.

Reasoning: Father de las Casas reasoned that Jesus commanded his disciples to preach the gospel and set a good example, not to terrorize those who won't accept it. He said this as a religious reasoning and for a political reasoning stated that Native Americans were now citizens of Spain, and since Spanish citizens in Spain cannot be enslaved, neither should Spanish citizens in Spain's colonies.

Dilemma: The king reminded Las Casas that slaves were promised to Spanish settlers and that slaves were needed to meet the rising demand for Spanish sugar.

Solution: Father Las Casa' solution was to supply Spanish colonists with slaves and meet the demand for sugarcane. Las Casas recommended the importation of African slaves to work the sugar plantations.

Identify THREE economic changes resulting from European colonization of the Americas.

An increase in coined money led to more business and investment opportunities.

Businesses were established through the sales of stocks or shares to invest.

Nations accumulated wealth through mercantilism.

Identify THREE basic principles of mercantilism.

Wealth is finite; nations grew richer at the expense of other nations.

Colonies supply the mother country with the means by which to become wealthy.

Nations must maintain a favorable balance of trade through protectionism.