Overview
This lecture examines the collision of Indigenous, European, and African cultures in early America, tracing colonization efforts, economic motives, cultural encounters, and the development of new societies in the New World.
The Columbian Exchange and Early Colonization
- The Columbian Exchange introduced diseases that devastated Native populations and brought new crops to Europe, fueling population growth.
- Spain benefited first, exploiting Aztec and Incan wealth to strengthen the monarchy and expand its empire.
- European rivals—Portugal, France, the Netherlands, and England—sought similar gains in the Americas.
Spanish America
- Spanish expeditions sought wealth and religious dominance, with missions and the encomienda system exploiting Native labor.
- Florida and the Southwest saw conflict, decimation of Native communities, and efforts at missionary conversion.
- Santa Fe was the first permanent European settlement in the Southwest (1610), but Spanish presence remained weak.
Emergence of Spain’s Rivals
- Religious conflicts (the Reformation) spurred France, the Netherlands, and England to challenge Spanish dominance.
- French colonization focused on trade, alliances, and cultural exchange with Natives (e.g., Huron), emphasizing cooperation.
- The Dutch fostered trade in New Netherland, practiced land purchasing (with misunderstandings), and relied increasingly on slavery.
- Portuguese Brazil thrived on sugar and slave trade, with large numbers of Africans enslaved and unique cultural blends emerging.
English Colonization
- England’s push to colonize was fueled by economic struggles, religious motives, and rivalry with Spain.
- Mercantilism and joint-stock companies enabled English expansion, while privateering weakened Spain.
- Early settlements (e.g., Roanoke) failed; Jamestown (1607) became the first permanent English colony.
Jamestown
- Jamestown faced starvation, disease, and conflict with Natives (Powhatan Confederacy).
- Tobacco cultivation, introduced by John Rolfe, saved the colony and spurred large-scale migration.
- Labor shortages led to indentured servitude and the introduction of African slavery (1619).
- Expansion led to violent conflicts with Native Americans and increasing English dominance.
New England Colonies
- New England colonies, mainly established by Puritans, aimed for religious reform and communal utopias.
- The region’s climate and land favored small farms and a modest, less stratified society.
- Population growth was steady due to family migration and fewer diseases.
- Puritan social and religious values shaped local governance, education, and communal norms.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Columbian Exchange — Transfer of plants, animals, people, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds.
- Encomienda — Spanish system granting settlers control over Native labor and land.
- Black Legend — Narrative of Spanish cruelty toward Indigenous Americans.
- Middle Ground — Region of cross-cultural interaction and accommodation between Natives and Europeans.
- Mercantilism — Economic theory focusing on state-controlled trade and accumulation of wealth.
- Indentured Servants — Migrants bound by contracts to work for a period in exchange for passage.
- House of Burgesses — First representative assembly in colonial America (Virginia, 1619).
- Puritans — English Protestants seeking to "purify" the Church of England from Catholic practices.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review primary sources listed in the chapter for deeper context on colonial encounters.
- Read about the development of the Atlantic slave trade and its impact on the Americas.
- Study key differences between colonial regions (Spanish, French, Dutch, English) for comparative analysis.