Chapter 25

What was the basis of the economy in the North American colonies?

As colonists' numbers increased, they sought to integrate their American holdings into the larger capitalist economy of the Atlantic Ocean basin by producing cash crops that they could market in Europe. These included tobacco, rice, indigo, and cotton.

What was distinctive about European exploration of Australia? Discuss the Native population there.

Dutch mariners explored west Australia in the seventeenth century, meanwhile there were no spices, no farmland to use. Australia held little interest to the Europeans until the eighteenth century, when British captain James Cook explored east Australia in 1770. In 1788, England established first settlement in Australia as a penal colony. Free settlers outnumbered convicted criminal migrants after 1830s.

What was the relationship of French and English settlers to the Native populations?

French and English settlers frequently clashed with native peoples who resented intrusions on their hunting grounds. The French and English took over the Native Americans for their natural resources, so the Natives often retaliated back by raids into the colonized areas. English colonists had little interest in converting indigenous peoples, and French missionaries worked actively, but met only modest success.

What kinds of communities were established in the New World Colonies of Portugal and Spain? How were they organized and governed?

In Spanish and Portuguese settlements, mestizo societies emerged. Peoples of varied ancestry lived together under European rule. Typically, whites owned the land and held the power, mixed races performed much of the manual labor, and Africans and Indians were treated as slaves.

Explain how sugar production came to dictate so much of colonial Brazilian life.

Martim Afonso de Sousa brought the production of sugarcane to Brazil and this brought many Europeans to South America. Sugarcane was considered the highest valued traded good and served a great importance.

How did Pizarro conquer the Inca Empire with 180 men?

Pizarro and his men did have an advantage over the Inca Empire with their weapons and horses. Eventually, however they would've been defeated. However, right before they got there, the Inca Empire had experienced a devastating loss because of small pox. They were weaker than they would've normally been.

Discuss the encomienda system.

Recruitment for labor came through an institution known as the encomienda, which gave Spanish encomenderos ("settlers") the right to compel the Taíno to work in their mines/field. The encomienda system rewarded Spanish conquerors by allowing them exact both labor and tribute from defeated Moorish populations, while requiring the encomenderos to look after the physical and spiritual welfare of their workers. It was brutal.

What was the basis of the economy in the Spanish empire? Who profited most?

Silver was the basis of Spanish New World wealth, considering it was more plentiful than gold. Silver produced profits for private investors and revenue for the crown. The Spanish government kept 1/5 of the silver production for itself.

When and how did slavery come to North America? How did it impact the societies there?

Slaves would work side-by-side with indentured servants, but eventually indentured servants would gain their freedom. In 1661, Virginia law recognized all blacks as slaves. The economies of northern colonies profited handsomely from slavery. The southern colonies were the ones who used slaves more however.

Compare the French and English settlements of North America. What kind of settlers came to each? How did these colonies differ from the Iberian colonies further south? Explain.

The French and English missions were less successful than the Spanish. North American populations were not settled or captive, English colonists had little interest in converting indigenous peoples, and French missionaries worked actively, but met only modest success.

What determined the social hierarchy in the Iberian colonies? Who tended to have wealth and power? Explain.

The viceroys governed the colonies and would report back to the king. The social hierarchy was determined by how pure your blood was, and if you were a Native to Spain or Portugal. Those of mixed races or Native races of Africa or the New World tended to stay at the bottom of the social stratification.

What became of the Taino people of the Caribbean?

When Spanish settlers arrived, they did not want to preform heavy labor. So they used the encomienda system, which gave Spanish settlers the right to compel the Taíno people to work in their mines/fields. It was brutal business, however, and by 1515, social disruption and physical abuse had brought a decline to the Taíno pop. By the middle of the 16th century, they had largely disappeared.