Bailey Kargo! IB HOTA 3rd period
English vs. Spanish Colonization
From 1500 to 1700, the English colonization of the Chesapeake region and the Spanish
colonization of the Central/South American region varied greatly in their primary motivations for
settlement and the lasting effects imprinted into both societies. The English motives in settling
the Chesapeake region were more economically-based, seeking greater economic opportunity
and employment, while the Spanish effort took on a more religious approach that ended up
having long-term effects on the way their culture and society developed. The effects both
colonies felt differed in many ways, primarily due to the varying motivational influences felt by
the English and the Spanish. However, similarities in colonial motivations and cultural impacts
were present between both societies.
English colonization of the Chesapeake region revolved around economic gain and
opportunity that colonizers believed could be found in the New World. Overcrowding in England
led to a desire for expansion and better employment options for English settlers. Rumors of gold
discovery in the New World also spurred an intense frenzy that English colonizers sought to
pursue, resulting in the development of societies poorly suited for colonial life when gold was
never found. On the other hand, Spanish colonization of Central and South America began with
the Spanish conquistadors, who used the saying "God, Gold, and Glory" to describe their
motivations for colonization. The dominant motivational force for the Spanish was the religious
aspect, where conquistadors sought to spread Christianity throughout Central and South
America. The "Glory" prospect was heightened by the yearning for Spain's dominance over the
Western Hemisphere, which was thought to be obtained through unifying native peoples through
Bailey Kargo! IB HOTA 3rd period the Christian religion. Similar to one aspect of English motivations, the Spanish also sought to
find gold and riches that...