The Spanish, French, and English Colonization.
The Spanish, French, and English Colonization
Have you ever wondered where why the many different countries in Europe came to America to explore and colonize? There were two main concepts that drew the Europeans to America: the excitement and profit of the "New World", and the past histories of their countries. The English, French, and Spanish each came to the Americas in search of a new beginning; a fresh start in which they could escape past torment and capture new wealth. However, each motive defined the character of each settlement.
With the inventions of more efficient ships and the perfection of navigational instruments, the Spanish (as well as England and France) gained a curiosity to explore and find a way to Asia by water and avoiding the land paths, and were the first to explore the discoveries of the Americas#. With this, they soon discovered the Americas along with the riches that it offered. The natives were kind (for the most part) to the Spanish in the beginning, and looked at them as gods. To these "gods", the Indians would give gold and jewelry at their command. Yet, much of the Spanish's profit was taken from the Indians by force.
In the late 15th century, Spain went through a "cleansing" period in which all religions other than Catholicism (mainly Muslims and Jews) were expelled.# Therefore, at this time, Spain was very strongly Catholic, and had an intense desire to spread this Catholicism to the new world. The Spanish constructed many missions made to convert the Indians to Catholicism in the New World. They converted the Indians because they felt that by doing this, they were saving the them from hell since they were not of the faith.
Though many Indians did convert to Catholicism, the Spanish began to use force upon the Indians by turning them into slaves and conquering their lands. The Spanish believed the Native Americans to be inferior and savage, therefore ravaging villages and enslaving entire tribes. Soon after the they committed
Have you ever wondered where why the many different countries in Europe came to America to explore and colonize? There were two main concepts that drew the Europeans to America: the excitement and profit of the "New World", and the past histories of their countries. The English, French, and Spanish each came to the Americas in search of a new beginning; a fresh start in which they could escape past torment and capture new wealth. However, each motive defined the character of each settlement.
With the inventions of more efficient ships and the perfection of navigational instruments, the Spanish (as well as England and France) gained a curiosity to explore and find a way to Asia by water and avoiding the land paths, and were the first to explore the discoveries of the Americas#. With this, they soon discovered the Americas along with the riches that it offered. The natives were kind (for the most part) to the Spanish in the beginning, and looked at them as gods. To these "gods", the Indians would give gold and jewelry at their command. Yet, much of the Spanish's profit was taken from the Indians by force.
In the late 15th century, Spain went through a "cleansing" period in which all religions other than Catholicism (mainly Muslims and Jews) were expelled.# Therefore, at this time, Spain was very strongly Catholic, and had an intense desire to spread this Catholicism to the new world. The Spanish constructed many missions made to convert the Indians to Catholicism in the New World. They converted the Indians because they felt that by doing this, they were saving the them from hell since they were not of the faith.
Though many Indians did convert to Catholicism, the Spanish began to use force upon the Indians by turning them into slaves and conquering their lands. The Spanish believed the Native Americans to be inferior and savage, therefore ravaging villages and enslaving entire tribes. Soon after the they committed
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