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

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I. Breaching the AtlanticI. Breaching the Atlantic

The Columbian VoyagesThe Columbian Voyages

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

Religious Conflict During the Religious Conflict During the Era of ReconnaissanceEra of Reconnaissance

Martin Luther’s Protestant ReformationMartin Luther’s Protestant Reformation

John Calvin’s CalvinismJohn Calvin’s Calvinism

Henry VIII and the Anglican ChurchHenry VIII and the Anglican Church

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

Caribbean ExperimentsCaribbean Experiments

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

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

The Conquistadors’ Onslaught The Conquistadors’ Onslaught at Tenochtitlanat Tenochtitlan

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

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

The Great DyingThe Great Dying

Spanish contacts with the natives of the Spanish contacts with the natives of the Caribbean, central Mexico, and Peru in the Caribbean, central Mexico, and Peru in the early sixteenth century triggered a early sixteenth century triggered a biological epidemic of smallpox in which biological epidemic of smallpox in which some 6 million people perished in 15 some 6 million people perished in 15 years.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 caused imported accidentally from Europe caused significant damage to the ecosystemsignificant damage to the ecosystem

Silver, Sugar, and Silver, Sugar, and Their ConsequencesTheir Consequences Silver was found abundantly in the New World, Silver was found abundantly in the New World,

especially in South America.especially in South America. Native labor was coerced into mining the metal Native labor was coerced into mining the metal

for the Spanish.for the Spanish. Wild influx of silver nearly destroyed the financial Wild influx of silver nearly destroyed the financial

markets of Europe.markets of Europe. Sugar production grew at an alarming rate, due Sugar production grew at an alarming rate, due

to the changing tastes of Europeans.to the changing tastes of Europeans. African slaves were deemed the best labor to African slaves were deemed the best labor to

produce the sugar. produce the sugar.

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

Belt of the United States:Belt of the United States:TexasTexasFloridaFloridaNew MexicoNew MexicoArizonaArizonaCaliforniaCalifornia

III. England Looks WestIII. England Looks West

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

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

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

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

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

The Westward FeverThe Westward Fever

The opportunities of the New World began The opportunities of the New World began to permeate all levels of English society in to permeate all levels of English society in the 1580s.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 unprofitable.colonization were weak and unprofitable.

Anticipating Anticipating North AmericaNorth America

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

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

Others saw them as docile and child-like,Others saw them as docile and child-like,

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 decades European slave traders following decades of trade by the Arabs and Moors.of trade by the Arabs and Moors.

The Middle PassageThe Middle Passage Also known as the Atlantic Passage, Also known as the Atlantic Passage,

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

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

Slavery in Early Spanish Slavery in Early Spanish ColoniesColonies Many thousands of African slaves were brought Many thousands of African slaves were brought

along by the great Spanish explorers of the late along by the great Spanish explorers of the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries:fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries:

Ponce de LeonPonce de Leon VasquezVasquez De SotoDe Soto CoronadoCoronado