Spanish and English Colonization Compare and Contrast the Spanish and English motives for colonization.

The main Spanish motives for colonization were for Gold, God and Glory.

Many European nations were beginning to look towards new lands after the catastrophic bubonic plague that killed more than a third of the people on the continent and damaged the already weak economy.

The first motive of the Spaniards was to become one of the prominent sea faring nations in order to compete with Portugal then the preeminent maritime most powerful seafaring nation in Europe and claim lands for Spain.

When the Spanish first arrived in Central America, after planting their flag on the ground, their incentive to continue their quest began after hearing about legends of cities made of gold. The Spanish arrived at present day Mexico, defeated the Aztecs and continued to trek northwards in search of more cities of gold.

The news that silver was to be found in Mexico attracted the attention of other Spaniards creating a wave of explorers that eventually opened up North and South America to Spanish settlement.

After the first wave of conquest, many Spanish settlers wen to the New World in hope of creating a profitable agricultural economy while others went to spread the Christian religion.

About half a century later when they realized that there were no cities of gold, missionaries had began the attempt to convert the natives to Christianity. Through the work of zealous missionaries, the gospel of the Catholic Church extended through out South and Central America, Mexico and the south and Southwest of the United States.

Compared to other European colonies in North America in the same time period, the Spanish ruled their colonies but did not people them. Due to the lack of migration of Spanish settler to the Spanish colonies, the majority of the Spanish Empire consisted mostly of natives. The Spanish imposed a small ruling class upon a much larger existing population; they did not create a self-contained European society in the New World, as the English would do in the north. As a result, most Spanish settlements in the Americas became religious missions, trading posts, and forts.

The main English motives for colonization were to first develop a profitable colony and later became a haven for pilgrims to flee religious persecution.

Following the English transformation of their economy into a wool exporting economy, many people were left with no land after having been taken over by sheep pastures. When the first English arrived in North America, they were looking to get rich. The theory of mercantilism increased competition among European nations. Every European state was trying to find markets for its exports while trying to limit its imports. One result was the increased attractiveness of acquiring colonies, which could become the source of goods that a country might otherwise have to buy from other nations.

Not yet adapted to the North American climate, the first English colony suffered from starvation and disease because the occupants were busy searching for gold and silver and growing food was not a priority.

After the English Reformation, the Puritans, also known as the Separatists, were determined to worship as they pleased in their own independent congregation. The Puritans wanted to simplify the Anglican forms of worship, reduce the power of the bishops, reform the local clergy and see the church pay more attention to its spiritual role than its world ambitions. They grew increasingly frustrated of either the political or the ecclesiastical leaders of the nation to respond to their demands. When James I ascended the throne, he believed that he ruled by divine right and had no obligation to compromise with his opponents, the Puritans and other religious nonconformists began to look towards distant lands for refuge.

After the survival of Jamestown, the near failure of the second expedition sent by Virginia Company, and Bacon's rebellion, the government in the English colonies generally became more centered on religion, commerce and civilized government authority.

Brinkley, Alan. "American History: A Survey Tenth Edition." McGraw-Hill College. 1999