Life in the Americas after Colombus

Repartimiento

Labor system that replaced the encomienda; required Native Americans to provide labor for a portion of the year. (Extract low-paid labor from local communities in conquered territories)

Encomienda

A system where Spanish settler was granted the right to extract labor from Native Americans in exchange for providing protection and religious instruction.

Bartolome de Las Casas

Spanish priest and advocate for Native American rights who criticized the encomienda system.

Conquistadores

Spanish conquerors who led military expeditions in the Americans (E.g., Cortes, Pizarro).

Ponce de Leon

Spanish explorer who is credited with the discovery of Florida.

Cabeza de Vaca

Spanish explorer who traveled across the American Southwest, advocating for Native American rights.

Seven Cities of Cibola

Mythical cities of gold that Spanish explorers, including Coronado, sought in the new world.

Hernando de Soto

Spanish explorer who led expeditions throughout the Southeastern United States.

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo

Explorer who led the first European expedition along the California coast.

St. Augustine

The oldest continuously occupied European settlement in North America, established by the Spanish in 1565.

Fort Carolina

French settlement in present-day Florida, destroyed by the Spanish to establish dominance.

European Encounters

Key details about the first interactions between Europeans and Native Americans (e.g., Columbus's arrival, initial conflicts, and exchanges). (Columbus's voyages led to significant interactions, marked by both exchanges and clashes between Europeans and indigenous peoples.)

Who Went Where/What Countries

Overview of which European countries explored specific parts of the Americas (e.g., Spain in the Caribbean and Mexico, France in Canada). (Different European nations explored and claimed various regions in the Americas, shaping future colonies.)

Why They Went There

Reasons for exploration (e.g., search for gold, spread of Christianity, desire for new trade routes). (Economic, religious, and political motivations fueled European exploration and colonization efforts.)

The System They Set Up

Systems established by Europeans (e.g., encomienda system) for governance and labor. (Europeans imposed labor systems to control and profit from indigenous populations and resources.)

Social Structure

New social hierarchies established by Europeans, including caste systems. (European colonization created rigid social structures that often-marginalized indigenous peoples and Africans.)

Different Parts of Where They Explored

Detailed information about specific regions explored by different countries (e.g., Spanish in South America, French in the Mississippi River Valley). (European exploration was regionally focused, leading to diverse colonial practices and interactions with Native Americans.)