From: Liz Horan
Date: 1/24/00
Time: 11:41:31 PM
Remote Name: 205.188.199.190
Elizabeth Horan January 24, 1999 Week Two
Text Assignment
There were many differences, as well as some similarities, among the Spanish, French, and English in their approaches to the New World. Each country had different goals and methods to conquering the New World, some which were more successful than others. The countries all encountered difficulties in locating and exploring America, however, their techniques and motivations were very different. The Spanish history of the New World begins with the tale of Christopher Columbus. The ambitious explorer who incorrectly identified America was very close to realizing what Amerigo Vespucci did. In regards to this new land, Spain insisted on being in complete control over the lands they discovered. The exciting discovery led to many "conquistadores" who came to the New World in search of wealth, and had no limits as to how they would obtain it. Their violent acquisitions of land presented Spain with more than it could handle. The King tried systems like the "encomienda" system of organizing the frontier, but was still unsuccessful. Ultimately, Spain ‘s conquest can be summed up in the insight of one Spaniard who stated, "The New World conquered by you, has conquered you in its turn." The French, however, had a drastically different approach than the extreme and greedy Spanish. The French curiosity in the New World developed later than the Spanish, and their motives were wealth as well as converting the natives to Christianity. Unlike other settlers, the French realized that the only way to assimilate the natives into French culture was to collaborate with them. The French also chose a different location to inhabit, the North (Canada). This area did provide them with abundant fur trading, but little potential for expansion, or separation from the King. Finally, England had dreams of inhabiting the New World, but found itself in political and religious upheaval. With the onset of the Reformation and the crown’s frequent changing of hands, England’s exploration plans were postponed. As the turmoil began to settle, a few did venture to the New World to fulfill their own curiosity. Although determined, the early English explorers, like Ralegh, accomplished nothing but the compilation of valuable information which would be beneficial eventually. Richard Hakluyt, however, did realize the New World’s importance for England’s prosperity and independence. Hakluyt’s writings, though, commenced the English disregard for the Natives Americans and Africans in America, only a slight precursor of the ignorance that would ensue. In conclusion, there were many differences in the Spanish, French, and English approaches to the New World. The Spanish violently fulfilled their greedy expectations by slaughtering native inhabitants, and the country paid for it in the long run. The French encountered harsh luck with the land, but were one of the few settlers to actually embrace and incorporate the natives. Then, England, who had a rough start to exploration eagerly pursued the New World, ignored the presence of the natives, and saw it as an escape from the oppressive English crown.