Era 1 Study Guide Flashcards
Briefly describe European colonization during this period.
During the 17th century, several European empires competed for control of North America. They each had their own goals, and the British, Dutch, Spanish, and French each developed their own colonization patterns. These patterns were shaped by environmental factors, as well as their different aspirations. They competed for resources with the Native Americans.
Briefly describe Spain’s New World colonies.
Spain maintained tight control over its colonial empire in the New World. The colonizers focused on converting the Native Americans to Christianity, whil also exploiting the labor of the native population.
What was the encomienda system?
This system allowed Spain’s initial settlers to extract labor from the local inhabitants. This system led to harsh treatment of the Ntaive Americans, and its flaws were chronicled by the Dominican friar, Bartolome de Las Casas. This system was abandoned in 1550, and was replaced with the repartimiento system.
What was the repartimiento system?
This system replaced the encomienda system by banning outright Indian slavery and mandating that Indian laborers be paid wages. This policy often went ignored in Spain’s colonies, as they still could require natives to work for Spanish landlords. This labor was eventually replaced with labor by African Americans.
Briefly describe Spain’s missonaries in the New World.
Spanish priests were often aggressive in leaving an imprint of Catholicism on native communities. They converted communities en masse. Their efforts were fairly successful, but the natives interwove their own spiritual practices with that of Catholicism, thus deviating from what the priests had originally intended.
Briefly describe Spain’s New World empire.
The empire was tightly controlled by the Crown, especially after the repartimiento system was established. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the empire was divided into two areas. The northern portion known as the Viceroyalty of New Spain and the southern portion known as the Viceroyalty of Peru.
Briefly describe the French and Dutch Colonies.
Both France and the Netherlands established colonies in the New World. Few French or Dutch actually settled in these area, for the colonies ultimately served as trading outposts. The few settlers intermarried with the natives, and promoted trade, which gave them valuable goods for export to Europe.
Briefly describe France’s New World empire.
The French holdings stretched from the mouth of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec to the port of New Orleans. They had territory in the Great Lakes region, the Ohio River Valley, the Mississippi River Valley, and much of the great Plains. Thei first settlements included Port Royal in 1605 and Quebec in 1608 (Samuel de Champlain). In 1642, they established a settlement that would become Montreal.
Briefly describe French and American Indian Diplomacy.
The French relied heavily on diplomacy with American Indian groups to remain afloat in the New World. The French military officers there learned the native lagnuages, and participated in trade and gift-giving. They chose to smoke the “Calumet,” which was the “peace pipe.” The French intermarried with the natives to promote good relations, and they relied on these relations to maintain France’s colonial presence. This Indian policy was in marked contrast to that of Britain or France.
