APUSH period 1-2

from 1491-1754

what was in the Americas pre-European colonization

There were many Native American tribes scattered w/ very diverse ways of life

What areas were very advanced during the pre- colonization in America

South and Central America were both technologically advanced (Mayans, Aztecs, Incas)

Native Americans

Adapted, learned, and transformed their environments to be useful to them

what three reasons did the Europeans come to colonize

They came to conquer (no peace w Natives), spread religion (convert to Catholicism), and money/ raw materials (three G’s- God, Glory & Gold)

Columbian Exchange

-Americas —> Europe, Africa, Asia

It resulted in tremendous change socially, culturally, and politically. Exchanged plants, animals, diseases, knowledge, and cultural ideas. When CC arrived, the world was changed forever

What did the Spanish start to think about in the NW

The Spanish explorers starting thinking heavily about what the New World had to offer economically

Encomienda System

where the Spanish gave colonist control over a group of Natives for the purpose of slave work

The Natives thought they were better than the Europeans ideal-wise and the Europeans thought they were better

This led to a power-struggle between the groups due to misunderstandings and sticking to cultural values. Lots of misunderstandings tended to be b/c of a language barrier.

Spanish Empire in the New world

The first goal of the Spanish was to find riches, then they focused on women. At first, they only brought groups of men as conquerors, so there were relations between Natives/ Spanish, resulting in cross-breeding

17th century Spanish control

The Spanish Empire had control in the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, South America, Florida, American Southwest.

Treaty of Tordesillas

(Spanish), claims the New World all to themselves

Sugarcane

Became the most profitable crop in the New World (period 1)

Encomienda System———> Repartimiento System

The Repartimiento System was those living in villages were legally free and deserving of compensation for labor, but abuse still happened.

Settlers came for…

agriculture, money, and to disperse Christianity

When the indigenous died out, which occurred pre- 1600…

the Spanish partnered with some West African groups and imported slaves to the Americas. It was forced labor. Africans were viewed as uneducated and primitive. Harsh conditions like the Natives resulting in high death rates