Spain’s Empire in the Americas

Spain’s Empire in the Americas

Chapter 2 Section 1

Chapter 2 Section 1

Spanish ConquistadorsSpanish Conquistadors

By the early 1500s, he Spanish had a firm foothold in the Americas.

From Spain’s island colonies in Caribbean, soldier - adventurers called conquistadors set out to explore and conquer the world unknown to them.

They hoped for riches and glory for themselves and Spain.

By the early 1500s, he Spanish had a firm foothold in the Americas.

From Spain’s island colonies in Caribbean, soldier - adventurers called conquistadors set out to explore and conquer the world unknown to them.

They hoped for riches and glory for themselves and Spain.

Cortés and PizarroCortés and Pizarro

In 1519, conquistador Hernando Cortés sailed from Cuba to Mexico with more than 500 soldiers.

The first Native Americans presented him gifts of gold.

On November 8, 1519, Cortés marched into the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Many Native Americans joined them because they hated the Aztec’s brutal rule.

In 1519, conquistador Hernando Cortés sailed from Cuba to Mexico with more than 500 soldiers.

The first Native Americans presented him gifts of gold.

On November 8, 1519, Cortés marched into the Aztec capital city of Tenochtitlan.

Many Native Americans joined them because they hated the Aztec’s brutal rule.

MoctezumaMoctezuma

The Aztec leader Moctezuma, met with Cortés and tried to get him to leave by offering him gold.

The gold had the opposite effect. Cortés took Moctezuma hostage and

claimed all of Mexico for Spain. However, the Aztecs soon rebelled

and forced the Spaniards to flee.

The Aztec leader Moctezuma, met with Cortés and tried to get him to leave by offering him gold.

The gold had the opposite effect. Cortés took Moctezuma hostage and

claimed all of Mexico for Spain. However, the Aztecs soon rebelled

and forced the Spaniards to flee.

Cortés Returns Cortés Returns

About a year later, Cortés returned to recapture Tenochtitlan and destroyed it.

In its place he built Mexico City, the capital of the Spanish colony of New Spain.

About a year later, Cortés returned to recapture Tenochtitlan and destroyed it.

In its place he built Mexico City, the capital of the Spanish colony of New Spain.

Francisco PizzaroFrancisco Pizzaro Pizarro landed on the coast of Peru in 1531

to search for the Incas, who were said to have much gold.

In September of 1532, Pizarro led about 170 soldiers through the jungle into the heart of the Inca Empire.

Pizarro took the Inca ruler Atahualpa prisoner.

The Incas paid a huge ransom to free their leader but Pizarro executed him anyway.

In November 1533, the Spanish had defeated the leaderless Incas and captured their capital city Cuzco.

Pizarro landed on the coast of Peru in 1531 to search for the Incas, who were said to have much gold.

In September of 1532, Pizarro led about 170 soldiers through the jungle into the heart of the Inca Empire.

Pizarro took the Inca ruler Atahualpa prisoner.

The Incas paid a huge ransom to free their leader but Pizarro executed him anyway.

In November 1533, the Spanish had defeated the leaderless Incas and captured their capital city Cuzco.

Why the Spanish were Victorious!

Why the Spanish were Victorious!

Several factors explain why the Spaniard’s were successful.

Technology - The Indian’s weapons were no match for their armor, muskets, and cannons.

The Spaniards rode horses, which Native Americans had never before seen.

Finally, the Native Americans were divided among themselves. In Peru, a civil war had just ended and in Mexico many Native Americans hated the Aztecs.

Several factors explain why the Spaniard’s were successful.

Technology - The Indian’s weapons were no match for their armor, muskets, and cannons.

The Spaniards rode horses, which Native Americans had never before seen.

Finally, the Native Americans were divided among themselves. In Peru, a civil war had just ended and in Mexico many Native Americans hated the Aztecs.

Spanish Explorers in North America

Spanish Explorers in North America

In 1513, Juan Ponce de León sailed north from Puerto Rico to investigate reports of a large island.

He returned with beautiful flowers there, so he named the place La Florida.

Ponce de León became the first Spaniard to set foot in what is now the United States.

In 1513, Juan Ponce de León sailed north from Puerto Rico to investigate reports of a large island.

He returned with beautiful flowers there, so he named the place La Florida.

Ponce de León became the first Spaniard to set foot in what is now the United States.

Francisco CoronadoFrancisco Coronado

Conquistador Francisco Coronado set out with about 1100 Spaniards and Native Americans to find the golden city.

Although they never found the city, they did explore what is now New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Kansas.

Conquistador Francisco Coronado set out with about 1100 Spaniards and Native Americans to find the golden city.

Although they never found the city, they did explore what is now New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Kansas.

Hernando de SotoHernando de Soto

While Coronado was trekking through the southwest, Hernando de Soto was searching for riches in what is now Southeastern United States.

DeSoto traveled as far north as the Carolinas and as far west as Oklahoma.

He died in what is now Louisiana, in 1542, having found the Mississippi River, but no gold. =-(

While Coronado was trekking through the southwest, Hernando de Soto was searching for riches in what is now Southeastern United States.

DeSoto traveled as far north as the Carolinas and as far west as Oklahoma.

He died in what is now Louisiana, in 1542, having found the Mississippi River, but no gold. =-(

Colonizing Spanish America

Colonizing Spanish America

Native Americans became a source of labor for the Spaniards.

Government officials granted settlers huge tracts of land to start mines, ranches, and plantations.

Plantations are large farms worked by laborers who live on the property.

To help Spanish colonists find needed workers, the Spanish government granted encomiendas - land grants that included the right to demand labor or taxes from Native Americans.

Native Americans became a source of labor for the Spaniards.

Government officials granted settlers huge tracts of land to start mines, ranches, and plantations.

Plantations are large farms worked by laborers who live on the property.

To help Spanish colonists find needed workers, the Spanish government granted encomiendas - land grants that included the right to demand labor or taxes from Native Americans.

Bartolomé de Las CasasBartolomé de Las Casas

The Spanish forced NA to work in the gold and silver mines.

Many died when the tunnels caved in. Some Spaniards protested the cruel

treatment. The priest Bartolomé de Las Casas

traveled through New Spain working for reform.

Mainly because of his efforts, the government of Spain ordered reform of encomienda system in the mid 1500s.

The Spanish forced NA to work in the gold and silver mines.

Many died when the tunnels caved in. Some Spaniards protested the cruel

treatment. The priest Bartolomé de Las Casas

traveled through New Spain working for reform.

Mainly because of his efforts, the government of Spain ordered reform of encomienda system in the mid 1500s.

Converting Native Americans

Converting Native Americans

The Spanish believed they had a duty to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.

They set up missions (religious settlements) run by Catholic priests and friars.

The Spanish believed they had a duty to convert the Native Americans to Christianity.

They set up missions (religious settlements) run by Catholic priests and friars.

The Trade in HumansThe Trade in Humans

As the death toll for NA rose, Spanish colonists looked across the Atlantic Ocean for a new source of labor.

In 1517, Spain brought about 4000 Africans to the Caribbean islands and forced them to work there.

By the middle of the 1500s, the Spaniards were shipping about 2,000 enslaved Africans each year to Hispaniola alone.

As the death toll for NA rose, Spanish colonists looked across the Atlantic Ocean for a new source of labor.

In 1517, Spain brought about 4000 Africans to the Caribbean islands and forced them to work there.

By the middle of the 1500s, the Spaniards were shipping about 2,000 enslaved Africans each year to Hispaniola alone.

Society in the Spanish Colonies

Society in the Spanish Colonies

The rigid social system based on birthplace and blood developed in the Spanish colonies.

At the top of the social structure were the peninsulares - Spanish colonists who had been born in Spain.

Almost all government officials came from this class.

The rigid social system based on birthplace and blood developed in the Spanish colonies.

At the top of the social structure were the peninsulares - Spanish colonists who had been born in Spain.

Almost all government officials came from this class.

Society ContinuedSociety Continued Creoles - colonists born in America to

two Spanish parents. Creoles also help important positions.

Many were wealthy merchants and plantation owners.

Mestizos- People who had both Spanish and Indian blood. These people were ranchers, farmers, or merchants.

Mulattos- People of Spanish and African heritage.

Native Americans and African Americans were held at the bottom of society.

Creoles - colonists born in America to two Spanish parents.

Creoles also help important positions. Many were wealthy merchants and plantation owners.

Mestizos- People who had both Spanish and Indian blood. These people were ranchers, farmers, or merchants.

Mulattos- People of Spanish and African heritage.

Native Americans and African Americans were held at the bottom of society.