America Colonization Differences

Essay by bam58College, UndergraduateA+, June 2006

download word file, 3 pages 3.0

Downloaded 59 times

In the late 1500s and early 1600s, the Americas had been discovered and establishment of the New World had begun. Many European nations were involved in the colonization of North and Latin America, but all had different approaches. Spain and Portugal were similar in the way they inhabited the land, but had different reasons for colonization. France approached colonization somewhat different, they were not focused on land, but on the economical impact that trade would have on their nation. Holland and England focused on colonization of North America completely different. Holland's views were rooted in trade possibilities for their homeland. The English had a deeper desire to explore the new world and expand their nation. The English proved to have had the best and worse approach of all the nations colonizing America. Their approach led to the formation of a new nation, but not under their control. The vast differences of all the nations and the imprint they left in their region of colonization shaped the New World into what it is today.

The Spanish and Portuguese shared the desire to achieve economical superiority over the other European nations with no avail. The locations where they implemented their ideas were completely different. The Treaty of Tordesillas in 1494 made the Spanish focus all of their attention to the Americas, while the Portuguese spread their colonies throughout Africa, Asia, and modern day Brazil. The treaty allowed the Spanish to colonize all of Latin America, Florida, and much of Western America. Both the Portuguese and the Spanish colonist were mainly poor, young, and unmarried Latin men. This was evident by the many interracial relationships and offspring in their colonies. They were also very militant in their colonization process. They would enforce their ideals, religion, and authority over the native inhabitants through military...