Chapter 2: Colliding Cultures
Spain extended its reach in the Americas after reaping the benefits of its colonies in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America
They wanted to establish religious and economic dominance in a new territory
Juan Ponce de León arrived in the area of La Florida in 1513 and oversaw the decimation of Florida’s indigenous population (via war, slave raids, or foreign disease)
Spanish colonizers frequently fought with Florida’s Native peoples as well as other Europeans (namely the French)
In 1598, Juan de Oñate led 400 men into New Mexico, marking the bloody beginning of the Spanish Southwest
Oñate led the sacking of the pueblo city of Acoma (the “sky city”), with the Spaniards slaughtering nearly half of its ~1500 inhabitants
Oñate ordered one foot cut off every surviving male over the age of 15 and enslaved the remaining women and children
Missionaries became the engine of colonization in North America
Catholicism had justified Spanish conquest in the past, and this continued in America
Reports of Spanish atrocities spread throughout Europe and provided a humanitarian justification for European colonization
The Spanish accused their critics of fostering a “Black Legend” (a sustained trend of biased reporting and writing directed at one individual, group, or nation)
It was argued that Spain was foiling an opportunity for the expansion of Christianity
French colonization developed through investment from private trading companies
The need for the fur trade built the foundations of French colonization
French fur traders put more of an emphasis on cooperating with indigenous people than on establishing a successful French colonial footprint (asserting dominance)
The French preference for trade over permanent settlement fostered more mutually beneficial relations with Native Americans than was typical among the Spanish and English
There was intermarriage and mixed offspring
The Netherlands achieved considerable colonial success, despite their size
Ravaged by the turmoil of the Reformation, the Dutch embraced greater religious tolerance and freedom of the press than other nations
The Netherlands built its colonial empire through the work of experienced merchants and skilled sailors
The Dutch were careful not to repeat Spanish atrocities and sought to profit, not conquer
Trade with Native peoples became New Netherlands’ central economic activity
The West India Company directors implemented the patroon system to encourage colonization
It granted large estates to wealthy landlords, who would pay for passages for the tenants who would work their land
As Dutch settlements expanded, their relations with local Native Americans deteriorated
The enslavement of African-Americans created problems relating to the morality of forced bondage
The wealth flowing from New Spain piqued the rivalry between the two Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal, creating a crisis within the Catholic World
The pope divided the New World with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494
Land east of the Tordesillas Meridian (an imaginary line dividing South America) would be given to Portugal, while west of the line was given to Spain
In return, Portugal and Spain were instructed to treat the natives with Christian compassion and to bring them under the protection of the Church
By 1530 the Portuguese turned their attention to the land that would become Brazil, driving out French traders
Two industries powered early colonial Brazil: sugar and the slave trade
High mortality rates on sugar plantations required a steady influx of new enslaved laborers, perpetuating the cultural connection between Brazil and Africa while also increasing the likelihood of resistance
Those who escaped slavery created free settlements called quilombos
Strong elements of African and Native spirituality mixed with orthodox Catholicism to create a unique religious culture
After Elizabeth I assumed the English crown in 1558 she oversaw England’s “golden age”, which included the expansion of trade and exploration
English mercantilism was a state-assisted manufacturing and trading system that created and maintained markets
However, as the English population skyrocketed, it brought social and economic hardships
Eventually, the public supported colonization
English colonization looked different than Spanish or French colonization, with the English seizing land through violence and pushing out the inhabitants (leaving them to move elsewhere or die)
Although Jamestown was in a good location strategically, the location itself was a disaster
Indigenous people had ignored the peninsula for two reasons: agriculture was hampered by terrible soil, and cracking tidal water had led to disease
Because Jamestown was a profit-seeking venture, the colonists were mostly gentlemen looking for easy riches who were unprepared for the challenges they would face
The Powhatans kept the English alive by welcoming them and trading with them, but as those relationships deteriorated so did the colony
Tobacco changed everything, saving Virginia from ruin
It incentives further colonization and laid the groundwork for what would become the United States
Puritans dominated the politics, religion, and culture of New England
The Puritans believed that the Church of England did not distance itself enough from Catholicism and also believed in predestination
Puritans were stereotyped by their enemies as dour killjoys
Spain extended its reach in the Americas after reaping the benefits of its colonies in Mexico, the Caribbean, and South America
They wanted to establish religious and economic dominance in a new territory
Juan Ponce de León arrived in the area of La Florida in 1513 and oversaw the decimation of Florida’s indigenous population (via war, slave raids, or foreign disease)
Spanish colonizers frequently fought with Florida’s Native peoples as well as other Europeans (namely the French)
In 1598, Juan de Oñate led 400 men into New Mexico, marking the bloody beginning of the Spanish Southwest
Oñate led the sacking of the pueblo city of Acoma (the “sky city”), with the Spaniards slaughtering nearly half of its ~1500 inhabitants
Oñate ordered one foot cut off every surviving male over the age of 15 and enslaved the remaining women and children
Missionaries became the engine of colonization in North America
Catholicism had justified Spanish conquest in the past, and this continued in America
Reports of Spanish atrocities spread throughout Europe and provided a humanitarian justification for European colonization
The Spanish accused their critics of fostering a “Black Legend” (a sustained trend of biased reporting and writing directed at one individual, group, or nation)
It was argued that Spain was foiling an opportunity for the expansion of Christianity
French colonization developed through investment from private trading companies
The need for the fur trade built the foundations of French colonization
French fur traders put more of an emphasis on cooperating with indigenous people than on establishing a successful French colonial footprint (asserting dominance)
The French preference for trade over permanent settlement fostered more mutually beneficial relations with Native Americans than was typical among the Spanish and English
There was intermarriage and mixed offspring
The Netherlands achieved considerable colonial success, despite their size
Ravaged by the turmoil of the Reformation, the Dutch embraced greater religious tolerance and freedom of the press than other nations
The Netherlands built its colonial empire through the work of experienced merchants and skilled sailors
The Dutch were careful not to repeat Spanish atrocities and sought to profit, not conquer
Trade with Native peoples became New Netherlands’ central economic activity
The West India Company directors implemented the patroon system to encourage colonization
It granted large estates to wealthy landlords, who would pay for passages for the tenants who would work their land
As Dutch settlements expanded, their relations with local Native Americans deteriorated
The enslavement of African-Americans created problems relating to the morality of forced bondage
The wealth flowing from New Spain piqued the rivalry between the two Iberian countries of Spain and Portugal, creating a crisis within the Catholic World
The pope divided the New World with the Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494
Land east of the Tordesillas Meridian (an imaginary line dividing South America) would be given to Portugal, while west of the line was given to Spain
In return, Portugal and Spain were instructed to treat the natives with Christian compassion and to bring them under the protection of the Church
By 1530 the Portuguese turned their attention to the land that would become Brazil, driving out French traders
Two industries powered early colonial Brazil: sugar and the slave trade
High mortality rates on sugar plantations required a steady influx of new enslaved laborers, perpetuating the cultural connection between Brazil and Africa while also increasing the likelihood of resistance
Those who escaped slavery created free settlements called quilombos
Strong elements of African and Native spirituality mixed with orthodox Catholicism to create a unique religious culture
After Elizabeth I assumed the English crown in 1558 she oversaw England’s “golden age”, which included the expansion of trade and exploration
English mercantilism was a state-assisted manufacturing and trading system that created and maintained markets
However, as the English population skyrocketed, it brought social and economic hardships
Eventually, the public supported colonization
English colonization looked different than Spanish or French colonization, with the English seizing land through violence and pushing out the inhabitants (leaving them to move elsewhere or die)
Although Jamestown was in a good location strategically, the location itself was a disaster
Indigenous people had ignored the peninsula for two reasons: agriculture was hampered by terrible soil, and cracking tidal water had led to disease
Because Jamestown was a profit-seeking venture, the colonists were mostly gentlemen looking for easy riches who were unprepared for the challenges they would face
The Powhatans kept the English alive by welcoming them and trading with them, but as those relationships deteriorated so did the colony
Tobacco changed everything, saving Virginia from ruin
It incentives further colonization and laid the groundwork for what would become the United States
Puritans dominated the politics, religion, and culture of New England
The Puritans believed that the Church of England did not distance itself enough from Catholicism and also believed in predestination
Puritans were stereotyped by their enemies as dour killjoys
