Chapter 2Chapter 2Europeans and Europeans and Africans Reach Africans Reach the Americasthe Americas

I. Breaching the AtlanticI. Breaching the Atlantic

The Columbian VoyagesThe Columbian Voyages

► Intending to discover an oceanic Intending to discover an oceanic passage to Asia, in 1492 Christopher passage to Asia, in 1492 Christopher Columbus instead mistakenly Columbus instead mistakenly discovered the Americas.discovered the Americas.

II. The Spanish Conquest of II. The Spanish Conquest of AmericaAmerica

Caribbean ExperimentsCaribbean Experiments

►Columbus’s second voyage to the Columbus’s second voyage to the New World established the first New World established the first Spanish colony in the Americas (in Spanish colony in the Americas (in present-day Santo Domingo).present-day Santo Domingo).

►TainosTainos were the first indigenous were the first indigenous people to meet the Spaniards.people to meet the Spaniards.

The Conquistadors’ The Conquistadors’ Onslaught at TenochtitlanOnslaught at Tenochtitlan

►Within a single generation after the Within a single generation after the death of Columbus, Spain had death of Columbus, Spain had conquered most of the New World.conquered most of the New World.

►Spain was motivated by religion, Spain was motivated by religion, nationalist pride, and dreams of nationalist pride, and dreams of personal enrichment.personal enrichment.

The Great DyingThe Great Dying

►Spanish contacts with the natives of Spanish contacts with the natives of the Caribbean, central Mexico, and the Caribbean, central Mexico, and Peru in the early sixteenth century Peru in the early sixteenth century triggered a biological epidemic of triggered a biological epidemic of smallpox in which some 6 million smallpox in which some 6 million people perished in 15 years.people perished in 15 years.

The Columbian ExchangeThe Columbian Exchange

► Imported animals from Europe (cattle, Imported animals from Europe (cattle, goats, pigs, etc.) devastated the fragile goats, pigs, etc.) devastated the fragile environment of the New World.environment of the New World.

►Various plants (especially weeds) Various plants (especially weeds) imported accidentally from Europe imported accidentally from Europe caused significant damage to the caused significant damage to the ecosystemecosystem

Silver, Sugar, and Silver, Sugar, and Their ConsequencesTheir Consequences

► Silver was found abundantly in the New Silver was found abundantly in the New World, especially in South America.World, especially in South America.

►Native labor was coerced into mining the Native labor was coerced into mining the metal for the Spanish.metal for the Spanish.

►Wild influx of silver nearly destroyed the Wild influx of silver nearly destroyed the financial markets of Europe.financial markets of Europe.

► Sugar production grew at an alarming Sugar production grew at an alarming rate, due to the changing tastes of rate, due to the changing tastes of Europeans.Europeans.

► African slaves were deemed the best labor African slaves were deemed the best labor to produce the sugar. to produce the sugar.

Spain’s Northern FrontierSpain’s Northern Frontier►Composed of the present-day Composed of the present-day

Sun Belt of the United States:Sun Belt of the United States: TexasTexas FloridaFlorida New MexicoNew Mexico ArizonaArizona CaliforniaCalifornia

III. England Looks WestIII. England Looks West

England Challenges SpainEngland Challenges Spain► England was the slowest European power England was the slowest European power

to begin expansion in the New World.to begin expansion in the New World.► They were initially motivated by the need They were initially motivated by the need

to expand fishing areas and find new to expand fishing areas and find new sources of wood.sources of wood.

► The rift between England and Spain The rift between England and Spain centered on religion (Catholic v. centered on religion (Catholic v. Protestant).Protestant).

► England defeated the Spanish Armada in England defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588; a gigantic upset.1588; a gigantic upset.

The Westward FeverThe Westward Fever

►The opportunities of the New World The opportunities of the New World began to permeate all levels of English began to permeate all levels of English society in the 1580s.society in the 1580s.

►England’s first effort at colonization England’s first effort at colonization occurred in Ireland.occurred in Ireland.

►England’s first attempts at American England’s first attempts at American colonization were weak and colonization were weak and unprofitable.unprofitable.

Anticipating Anticipating North AmericaNorth America

►Early English settlers had vague ideas Early English settlers had vague ideas about the nature of the American about the nature of the American natives, some true some false.natives, some true some false.

►Some saw Indians as savage Some saw Indians as savage predators to be conquered quickly.predators to be conquered quickly.

►Others saw them as docile and child-Others saw them as docile and child-likelike

IV. African BondageIV. African Bondage

The Slave TradeThe Slave Trade►The African slave trade began as an The African slave trade began as an

attempt to fill a labor shortage in the attempt to fill a labor shortage in the Mediterranean region as early as the Mediterranean region as early as the eighth century.eighth century.

►Portuguese merchants were the first Portuguese merchants were the first European slave traders following European slave traders following decades of trade by the Arabs and decades of trade by the Arabs and Moors.Moors.

The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage►Also known as the Also known as the

Atlantic Passage, Atlantic Passage, transferred slaves to the transferred slaves to the New World in four to New World in four to eight weeks on board eight weeks on board sailing vessels.sailing vessels.

►Conditions were Conditions were incredibly bad and many incredibly bad and many Africans died during the Africans died during the forced journey.forced journey.

Slavery in Early Spanish Slavery in Early Spanish ColoniesColonies

►Many thousands of African slaves were Many thousands of African slaves were brought along by the great Spanish explorers brought along by the great Spanish explorers of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries:centuries:

► Ponce de LeonPonce de Leon► VasquezVasquez►De SotoDe Soto► CoronadoCoronado