Colonization of Northern America

• From the greatest settlement in North America in 1780, the greatest number of Europeans are from Spain, France, and England.
• Spanish exploration began in the Caribbean and Golf of Mexico.
• The Spanish tended to settled in southern portions of North America continent.
• They also established a presence farther west, among the Pueblo peoples in the area now known as New Mexico.
• The Spanish tried to exploit the land rather than develop it.
• They also forced native populations to follow their harsh policies.
• Conflict with native populations and lack of economic growth prevented Spain from being firmly established in North America.
• 3 explorers from French:

  Jacques Cartier

  Samuel de Champlain

  Robert de LaSalle
• 1534 - the French king sent Jacques Cartier to find riches and a water route to China. He did not find the riches or a route to China but discovered the St. Lawrence River and made contacts with several native tribes with whom the French would later establish trade.
• Samuel de Champlain discovered 2 of the Great Lakes (Ontario and Huron), Lake Champlain. His loves frontier areas. He was given the title Father of New France.
• 1682 - Robert de LaSalle explored the Mississippi River and named the region Louisiana in honor of King Louis XIV.
• French discovered it was easier to claim than to colonize.
• The French territory in the New World never had a large population. They failed to develop the land.
• In exchange for the furs that French traders and trappers trade, the Native American gave guns, tools, and beads.
• Many of the early settlers were not properly equipped to carve out settlements from the wilderness, and others were not willing to work and help make the ventures a success. However, ships continued to bring more colonies to the New World, and settlements began to survive.
• John Smith and Sir Thomas Dale of Jamestown settlement aided this process.
• The colonists developed cash crops, crops which could be sold for cash or supplies.
• English settlements differed from Spain and French because,

  1. Most of the English colonists came under private investors, not government sponsorship.
  2. The English colonists brought their families with them and established roots in America
  3. Most English colonists were Protestants.
• Many English traveled to the New World for religious reasons.
• Puritans are Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England of all Catholic practices, in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630.
• Those who openly refused to obey the principles by the Puritans were often expelled from the colony.

  1. When the children did not follow the faith of their parents, the church began to be populated with unbelievers.
  2. Christians who held different beliefs about issues such as baptism or church government were often treated harshly.
• Pluralism - allowed many different religions to be practiced freely. Pennsylvania was the largest.
• Each English colony in the New World had some control over its own government. The governor ruled with the help of a legislature.
• The French king believed he should have absolute rule over his colonies. The colonies' wealth supported the king's court in France rather than developing the colonies.
• In English New England, education was important. Many parents recognized their God-given responsibility to reach their children. One of the first buildings the settlers constructed was a one room school.
• Outside of New England, education did not receive the same emphasis.

  Religious reasons: not every colony stressed personal knowledge of the Scriptures as the New England colonies did. Practical reasons: other colonies focused more in practical skills or did not have time or resources to prioritize education.
• War of Jenkins' Ear - English and Spain war. The merchant ship of Captain Robert Jenkins was boarded by Spanish coast guard officials in the Caribbean in 1731. In the fighting, his ear was cut off.
• The English Parliament used this incident to provoke a war, wanting to protect English trading opportunities.
• England and France wars - western frontier and the Canadian border.
• 4 wars between English & France:

  1. King William's War was fought along owners.
  2. Queen Anne's War was fought on frontiers and along the coast and ended with the transfer of much of eastern Canada to English control.
  3. King George's War caused no real change for the colonies.
  4. French and Indian War was started over a land dispute. The French constructed several forts in a disputed region.
• The French used guerrilla warfare tactics (surprise attacks by small groups).
• William Pitt, a new English leader used their navy to keep France from helping its colonies, and they appointed young, energetic commanders.
• The Treaty of Paris ended the war required France to give England its Canadian land and to surrender it's claims to the Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys. The Treaty affected Spain but it had to give Florida to the English but gained the French lands west of the Mississippi River.