European Colonization of America – Flashcards
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Colombus
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-sailed in 1492, and he established a new commercial route to America -First voyage: Explorer, next voyage becomes an empire builder (17); never set foot in North America but in the Caribbeans; Product of his time
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Conquistadors
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"Conquerors" followed him to America; they also wanted to spread Catholicism
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Eurocentrism
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Europeans claimed they "discover" America; -Europe+Center, Since no other European had ever been to the Americas, they claimed they "discovered" America
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Amerigo Vespucci
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-"New" world; Italian -He needs/seeks out Spain's help (like Columbus did) -Discovers old maps are wrong (missing something; Columbus was not in Indonesia, but someplace new) -Returns to Europe after visiting coastline of North America: Seeks out Germany mapmakers America named after him
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Magellan
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5 ships and 250 men (Spain); knows there is a large landmass so goes around to reach Indonesia Proving Columbus' theory -killed in the Philippines -Disease and starvation reduce crew; returned with a crew of 18 and 1 ship (Magellan gets credit for circumvention)
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Vasco de Balboa
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Conquistador- first European to see Pacific Ocean; claims it for Spain (ex. of Eurocentrism)
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Hernando Cortez
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Conquistador- defeated the Aztecs and stole their gold
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Fransico Pizarro
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Conquistador- conquered the Incas and bought to Spain riches
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Why does Cortez sail to Mexico, and what does he discover?
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Cortez hears rumors of land filled with gold and silver and sails to Mexico. Cortez discovers the Aztec Empire.
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What is the Aztec capital city?
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Tenochtitlan (modern day Mexico City)
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Who was the Aztec Emperor, and what mistakes did he make upon Cortez's arrival?
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Montezuma II; Montezuma showers Cortez and the Spaniards with gifts and respect because the Aztecs thought Cortez was one of their gods due to his appearance, armor, and horses); Montezuma gives half the gold to Cortez, making Cortez question if there is more, showing his greed.
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What did Cortez say to convince Montezuma to give him more riches and what does Montezuma realize?
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Cortez tells Montezuma he and his crew have "disease of the heart that can only be healed/cured with gold." Montezuma begins to realize Cortez isn't their god after seeing Cotez's greed.
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After the Aztecs see Cortez's greed, what happens next in order for the Spaniards to get the riches?
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Cortez attack the Aztecs, conquering them in 1521, and they can now return to Spain with tons of riches.
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what three main contributions helped them (Cortez) win against and defeat the Aztecs?
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Technology- they are experienced with their horses, guns, and cannons, also having armor made the Europeans more equipped for war Disease- Smallpox: wiped out half of the natives population, in some cases (the natives had never been exposed to the disease the Spaniards carried, but the Europeans were immune Help- some native tribes helped Cortez fight against the Aztecs: gave them access to food, they knew the way around, and manpower to carry supplies (weapons)
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Who was the leader of the Incas?
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Atahualpa
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What was the size difference in the Inca population and Francisco Pizarro's conquest? What did Pizarro do to lower those numbers and who did he capture?
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The Incas were in the millions while Pizarro's were in the hundreds. Pizarro set an ambush to lower their numbers, holding them hostage; one of Pizarro's captives happened to be Atahualpa.
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What did Pizarro do in order to gain riches through the Incas? Why did the Incas agree to the terms?
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Pizarro set a ransom/price of filling a room once with gold, twice with silver in exchange for Atahualpa's safe return. The gold and silver did not have the same amount of value as their leader because they saw the riches as decoration/ornaments an Atahualpa organized them, made their empire function.
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Why did Pizarro decide to not set Atahualpa free, and what excuse did he use for his actions? What happens after to the Incas?
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After the Incas fill their end of the bargain, Pizarro does not return Atahualpa because if he returns their leader then the Incas could easily take down Pizarro and his men. Pizarro needs a good reason to keep Atahualpa from his people, so he convicts Atahualpa of heresy and kills Atahualpa. The Incas then retreat, and Pizarro takes the capital.
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What were European Monarchs interested in from the Americas and who were they influenced by?
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European monarchs were interested in the wealth of the Americas and were influenced by Cortez and Pizarro's success.
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Define sovereignty. Who claims sovereignty over lands in Latin America?
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Sovereignty- sole control (apply to dividing the land of the Americas). Spain and Portugal claimed sovereignty over land in Latin America, but they don't actually own it.
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Explain the use of the Encomienda system in the Spanish Empire.
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The Encomienda system was a way to get people to come from Spain to settle in the Americas and be rewarded with land. Spanish settlers were given HUGE tracts of land for cultivation of cash crops, mining, or ranching.
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What were some of the cash crops found and the Spanish cropped?
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Coffee, sugar cane, and tobacco
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What were the Mestizo race?
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mixed Spanish and Native American race
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What role and power did Spain hold during this time? What was the importance of their navy?
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Spain was very rich and powerful. They built a very strong navy to keep their ships well protected because they carried riches to Spain. Their strong navy also helped with more expansion, claiming land and further exploring the Americas.
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What did Juan Ponce de Leon claim for Spain and what was he in search of?
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While looking for the Fountain of Youth Ponce de Leon claims Florida for Spain.
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Francisco Vasquez de Coronado was in search of what before returning to Spain after being attacked?
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Francisco Vasques de Coronado was in search of El Dorado (City of Gold).
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What did the Catholic work hard to establish and end in the Americas? What did the Church gain and where did they establish new grounds?
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The Catholic Church established schools, taught agriculture, and worked to end the abuses of the Natives. The Catholic Church grew rich through grants of land and church taxes. The church established in New Mexico, and they had great efforts to end the mistreatment of the laborers.
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What did the Church's efforts do to the Encomienda system and the source of labor?
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The Encomienda system goes under fire and is soon abolished, but that leads to the dilemma of where to get their source of labor. The end of Native abuse leads them to setting up the African Slave Trade.
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New European nations start to what in America?
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New European Nations begin to establish in other colonies in the Americas.
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The French explorers start sailing west and they land where forming what? Where does France control?
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Giovanni Verrazzano- NY Harbor Jacques Cartier- St. Lawrence River, Mont Real (Mount Royal) Samuel de Champlain- Quebec -New France; they control the Midwest
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Which Frenchmen head South and explore the Great Lakes and North Mississippi River?
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Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet
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Which Frenchman explored the entire length of the lower Mississippi River and names Louisiana after King Louis XIV?
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Sieur de La Salle
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What was France's main goal and why did it cause the French Population in America to be so small? Who made up most of the small French Population?
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The French Population was only 65,000 people spread through their territory because they were only there to trade, not to start a new, there stay is temporary. There was no desire to build towns or families. Catholic priests/ Jesuits are part of the 65,000; the single men trading fur, who had a good relationship with the Natives, were looking to make money and leave.
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What was the first English colony in North America and why was there start so disastrous? How does their bad start begin to improve?
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King James chartered a colony in North America, the Jamestown colony. They had a disastrous start with Native Americans because they expected the Natives to Provided them with food (food supply low), the Natives killed the colonists, they arrived in America after a drought (left water very brackish/high salt content), and their focus is on finding gold not crops causing every 7 out of 10 to die. Things improve when they find tobacco (cash crop), and because of this more people and supplies are sent over to ensure the colonies success, leading to more civilization.
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Where did the Pilgrims land, and what did they carry out?
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Plymouth, Massachusetts; they carried out religious persecutions
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Which colony came after the Pilgrims, and how long after the Pilgrims did they come? What did this colony want to represent and do? What helped the colony survive?
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The Puritans came 10 years after the Pilgrims and settled in Massachusetts Bay. The Puritans wanted to be the model community to others. Families helped the colony survive because they took their lives and everything with them to start the new colony. The colonists brought their families with them from the start unlike a lot of other groups that came before them setting a strong foundation for the colony.
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Who established the New Netherland? What comes from the Dutch growing in America (Posts, Companies), and what were they looking to do?
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New Netherland was established by the Dutch. Henry Hudson (Hudson River and Hudson Bay); Dutch start to establish various trading posts. A famous post being Fort Orange (Albany, NY) and Manhattan Island. The Dutch West India Company built (but doesn't get as powerful as the Dutch East India Co.) and with this they expand fur trade. The New Netherland settlement was not trying to start a new like some of the other British.
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Why were the English mad about the Dutch settling? What did the English do about it, and how did the Dutch react?
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New Netherland blocked English Colonies (located between the English colonies). Charles II wants to drive out the Dutch. The Duke of York shows up, threatening the Dutch, and the Dutch surrender with out a fight. The Dutch knew they didn't have the same resources and strength as the English, causing the Dutch to have only a short period in North America. New Netherlands is renamed New York.
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Because of the growth in the English colonies, what does England need to do and how does it complicate things for themselves and France?
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The English colonies population grew to 1.2 million, so they now need to expand. English try expanding South but hit Spanish territory (still very powerful, so don't consider going up against them), they can't expand east because they are already on the east coast, and North is to cold. To gain more land the only option is to push west, but they run into France, making conflict arise.
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What does the big conflict between the English and France lead to? How are the Natives involved? How long does the conflict last and who gains territory?
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The conflict leads to the French and Indian War ("7 Years War"). Some natives think because of the British size they are more likely to win; they think if they do something nice they might get something in return. But most natives decide to help the French. Because of the natives effort in the war, it last much longer than expected. The British defeat the French in 7 years, and the British gains eastern half of North American.
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Why don't the English work as easily like the French and Dutch do with Native Americans?
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The French and Dutch work with the Natives trading (fur trade for guns, hatchets, mirrors, and beads) and benefiting both sides. English don't cooperate with the natives well because they wanted to settle unlike most of the French and Dutch that just wanted to trade. The English colonized the natives land, pushing the natives off for houses and tobacco growth. Also do to religious differences, the English saw the natives as heathens.
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What was King Philip's War, who was Philip, and what was his birth name?
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Metacom (Philip) worked and got along with the Pilgrims and decided to change his name to Philip to be more European. Metacom turns on the colonists after they attempt to take his land. He leads with multiple other Native tribes in retaliation (fighting back), but is later killed in the woods one day.
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What made the Europeans turn to African slaves?
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Initially they wanted to use the Native Americans, but because sugar cane and tobacco plantations needed lots of workers and intentionally as well as unintentionally they killed off lots of Natives (disease and war).
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List the causes of African Slavery.
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-Slavery already existed in Africa: it was not a new concept the African (although the Europeans ended up having different views on slavery) -Increased with the spread of Islam
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What were some differences in Slavery in Africa?
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In Africa Slavery was a punishment, the slaves had some legal rights and social mobility, they had ways to end their terms as slaves (could marry out; it was not inherited)
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Explain the demand for Africans.
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-Exposed to European disease- (unlike the natives) after centuries of trade between Europe and Africa, they had developed an immunity like the Europeans -Experience in farming and tolerance for hot climates -Didn't know their way around unfamiliar land- not likely to escape-- but if they did... -Skin color made them stand out- easy to catch if they escaped (they stood out from the lighter skin of the Europeans and Natives
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1500-1600- how many slaves being brought from Africa? 1500-1700? 1500-1870?
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15-1600--30,000 slaves 15-1700-- jumped to 1.3 million (more than tripled) 15-1870-- 9.5 million (on the lowest)
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Who took the lead in being the biggest importers of slaves?
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Spain (Americas) takes an early lead followed by the Portuguese (Brazil)
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How were the slaves packed on the ships, and how did the numbers of slaves aboard compare to the Europeans? Why did the slaves not rebel on the ship?
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Usually on the ships there were way more slaves than Europeans aboard, but they did not mutiny because they don't know how to steer the ship, they wouldn't know what to do, or where to go.
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As slavery spreads who becomes the front runner in North African slave trade (West Indies)? Why is there so much cooperation from the African rulers and merchants, and how did that change?
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England; The merchants would capture Africans to be enslaved and would wait for the Europeans on the coast. African merchants and rulers liked what the Europeans brought to trade: gold and guns. Sellers assumed they were sending slaves into the same conditions as they had in Africa, but word gets around about the differences in American slavery, so there is some opposition once slavery grew larger (change of heart). (Initially only criminals are being sold but as slavery got larger they wanted more power and guns/gold so some bend the rules).
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Explain triangular trade. What were the slaves traded for in the West Indies?
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Europeans trade manufactured goods in Africa for slaves, then slaves were traded to the West Indies for sugar, coffee, and tobacco that were sold back in Europe.
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Describe the Middle Passage.
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The Middle Passage was the voyage of slaves from Africa to the West Indies that was very long and hard. Very cruel treatment was held against the slaves (whippings/beatings, limited food and water, disease developed, and abuse). ~20% of the 400-500 that could be carried on the ships died.
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Explain slave life/work.
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The slaves were auctioned to the highest bidder. They would work in mines, fields, and as servants. They had less than spectacular living conditions, working long days, and facing beatings.Unlike in African slavery, if you were born a slave you died a slave; it was for life as well heredity.
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How did the slaves show resistance and rebellion?
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-Cultural Heritage was one of the few things they could hold on to, they could not be robbed of. Through slow songs while they worked slow giving them some power. -break tools (intentionally and unintentionally) -Uproot plants -Run away; although they didn't do this to often because they did not know where to go and if it was any better out there in the unfamiliar surroundings (but some conditions pushed them to run). These weren't huge ways to resist but gave them something.
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What were the slave owners biggest fears, and when did it occur?
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Slave owners biggest concerns were of them organizing themselves and fighting back. They ended up revolting at the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina. In the rebellion the slaves grouped together, killed some of the slave owners, and freed some of the slaves. The Stono Rebellion was not completely successful other than bringing the slave owners, struck fear.
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How did taking so many Africans away to America effect things (good and bad)?
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9.5 million, generations, of Africans taken away to the colonies. Taking away these people tore apart families; parents lost their children. The trade for slaves introduced guns to the Africans, bringing lots of violence and tribal violence (still going on today). But the biggest pro of slave labor was how the contribution of free labor made the colonies successful; major factor/reason the colonies prospered. The Africans brought with them their expertise and culture. The use of slaves brought the African-American population.
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Define Colombian Exchange. Tell what was exchanged.
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"Global transfer of foods, plants,and animals during the colonization of the Americas." -Goods _from_ Americas: Tomatoes, pineapples (Caribbean places), cocoa beans, tobacco, corn, and potatoes (didn't exist in Europe until they were brought from the Americas) -Goods _to_ Americas: Horses, cows, pigs, and sheep -Not all good things however, Europeans brought smallpox and measles to the AMericas
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What did global trade bring along (and define)? What did exploration lead to (and define; Hint: what did it do to money)?
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Global trade brought along a new emphasis on Capitalism -Capitalism: "Economic system based on private ownership and the investment of resources for profit." With this people other than the king were making money, making government no longer sole runners of wealth open up to the Merchant class. -Exploration led to an increase in money supply: Inflation- the value of money goes down; "Steady rise in the price of goods"
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What method lowered the high risk that came with looking for making a profit?
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Joint-stock Companies: "Company where investors buy shares of stock in the company." Doing so makes less profit but if they aren't successful the blow is less because it is spread; gets profit, but less risk. Since this came with less risk, more people would do it.
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Define Mercantilism and explain. What were the two ways to gain wealth? Define Favorable Balance of Trade.
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Mercantilism: "A country's power depended on it's wealth;" money equals power. -Gaining wealth was everyone's goal: Obtain as much gold and silver as possible (find it and take it; quick, easy way but didn't always work), or Favorable Balance Trade: "Sell more and buy less" (make a profit)
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What was the main role of the colonies?
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-Produce cash crops -Provide raw materials for products, colonies are told what to do (what to produce); the British make goods and need someone to buy (the colonies) -People to buy European goods; colonies reliant on Britian
