From: Danielle Ayers
Date: 1/24/00
Time: 9:17:32 PM
Remote Name: 155.247.154.37
Danielle Ayers History 67 Professor Cutler January 23, 2000
Text Assignment: What were the differences among the English, French and Spanish in their approaches to the New World? Different civilizations obviously have different approaches to colonization techniques, interactions with others, and means of making money. These differences produce very diversified lifestyles, and leave room for many mistakes. The English proved to be the most unsuccessful nation living in the New World. When Sir Walter Ralegh discovered what he called Virginia in 1584, it was not the first time that the English had been on American soil. A man named John Cabot had already landed there in 1497. Interest in the New World was put on hold because of political problems in England. When Ralegh finally established a colony in Roanoke, it proved to be very unsuccessful. The English established some independent farms and were unreasonably cruel to the Indians instead of befriending them. Consequently, the colonies founded at Roanoke were short-lived. The French had a very different approach to living in the New World. Their exploration was slow compared to the Spaniards, but much more successful than the English. They were initially interested in the wealth of the New World and converting the Indians to Christianity. As economic partners, the Indians helped the French in Canada to market furs, and often married native women. The crown in Paris proved to be a major problem for the French because they controlled much of the trade that came through Quebec. Spaniard Christopher Columbus is famous for his initial exploration into the New World, but it was the Conquistadores who raked the land for its instant wealth in gold and precious metals. The encomienda system, which rewarded Spanish leaders with Indian villages, kept the royal authority in charge of all matters in New Spain (Mexico). All documents had to be sent by boat to Madrid to be considered, but the system worked. The Spanish brought the Catholic religion to Mexico, and tried to convert Indians. Many of the settlers were single men and they married the Native Americans and Blacks.