AP U.S. History: European Colonization (1607-1754)
Overview
- Focus on European colonization and expansion in America (1607-1754)
- Shift from Spanish to French, British, and Dutch colonial efforts
Spanish Colonization Recap
- Motives: Extract wealth through agriculture and mining
- Labor System: Encomienda system and African slavery
- Society: Caste system based on racial ancestry
- Religion: Conversion of natives to Christianity (mixed success)
- Resistance: Pueblo Revolts against Spanish rule
French Colonization
- Initial Interest: Water route to Asia, delayed by European wars and persecution of Huguenots
- First Settlement: Quebec, established by Samuel de Champlain (1608)
- Focus: Trade over conquest (e.g., fish and fur trade)
- Population: Relatively few colonizers
- Native Relations: Alliances and intermarriage for trade (e.g., Ojibwe Indians)
- Cultural Exchange: Introduced iron cookware, farming tools, and cloth
Dutch Colonization
- Motives: Economic, seeking water route
- Explorations: Henry Hudson's exploration (Hudson River)
- Settlement: New Amsterdam (1624)
- Focus: Trade hub with less interest in conversion
British Colonization
- Motivations:
- Economic changes post-Columbian Exchange
- Noble and peasant economic decline
- Enclosure movement reducing common lands
- Religious freedom and improved living conditions
- Migration: Family groups seeking new homes
- Native Relations: Initially peaceful, then tension and violence
- Different from Spanish (expulsion vs. subjugation)
Key Takeaways
- European colonial efforts varied in motivations, strategies, and interactions with native populations
- French and Dutch less focused on conquest, more on trade
- British colonization marked by economic and religious motivations, leading to different land and native relations
Conclusion
- Understanding these differences is crucial for AP U.S. History and the development of colonial America
- Further exploration of British interactions with Native Americans in future lectures
For further study, consider utilizing review materials to aid in exams and understanding of the topic.