Topic 2.2 European Colonization in North America

Spanish colonies

• developed slowly in North America b/c of limited mineral resources and resistance from American Indians

• colonies resided in Florida, New Mexico & Arizona, Texas, and California

Florida colonies

• land claimed by Juan Ponce de Leon for Spain

• established St. Augustine

• only a few settlements were developed here because of little silver and gold found, a declining native population b/c of disease & wars, and also periodic hurricanes

New Mexico and Arizona colonies

• Spanish colonists arrived here around 1598

• established Santa Fe & it became the capital of New Mexico in 1610

Texas colonies

• Spanish established settlements in Texas which grew in the early 1700s

French colonies

• most of the colonizers were men, but little were French

• many came as Christian missionaries or came for economic reasons to work in the fur trade

• b/c the French relied on trade, rivers were important in their colonies

Quebec

• the first French settlement in America located on the St. Lawrence River

• founded by Samuel de Champlain aka “Father of New France” in 1608

Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette

• explored the upper Mississippi River in 1673

Robert de la Salle

• explored the Mississippi basin nine years after Louis and Jacques explored upper Mississippi

• named the area Louisiana (after the French king Louis XIV)

New Orleans

• a permanent settlement established in 1718 when the French moved southward down the Mississippi River

• became a prosperous trade center

Dutch colonies

• consisted of small numbers of traders who built strong trade networks among American Indians

• the Dutch were more likely to settle in trading posts near the cost or along major rivers

• less likely to intermarry with American Indians, unlike the French

Henry Hudson

• an English sailor hired by Netherlands government to seek westward passage to Asia

• sailed up a broad river while searching for a northwest passage

  • that was later named for him (Hudson River)

New Amsterdam

• Hudson’s expedition established Dutch claims to this area

• the Dutch government granted a private company, the Dutch West India Company, the right to control the region for economic gain

British colonies

• England’s growing population led to a number of poor and landless families in its country, sparking interest in the Americas

• those from England included a higher percentage of families and single females, and were more interested in farming

  • more likely to claim American Indian land