Colonialism

Document Analysis• Read the document provided and

underline the answers to the following questions…

1. Who is giving the Spaniards their authority?

2. What are the natives being asked to do?3. What will happen to them if they obey?4. What will happen to them if they do not

obey?5. Critical Thinking: What does this allow

the Spaniards to do?

The Requerimiento of 1510• Wherefore, as best we can, we ask and

require you that you consider what we have said to you, and that you take the time that shall be necessary to understand and deliberate upon it, and that you acknowledge the Church as the Ruler and Superior of the whole world, and the high priest called Pope, and in his name the King and Queen Doña Juana our lords, in his place, as superiors and lords and kings of these islands and this Tierra-firme by virtue of the said donation, and that you consent and give place that these religious fathers should declare and preach to you the aforesaid.

The Requerimiento of 1510• If you do so, you will do well, and that which

you are obliged to do to their Highnesses, and we in their name shall receive you in all love and charity, and shall leave you, your wives, and your children, and your lands, free without servitude, that you may do with them and with yourselves freely that which you like and think best, and they shall not compel you to turn Christians, unless you yourselves, when informed of the truth, should wish to be converted to our Holy Catholic Faith, as almost all the inhabitants of the rest of the islands have done. And, besides this, their Highnesses award you many privileges and exemptions and will grant you many benefits.

The Requerimiento of 1510• But, if you do not do this, and maliciously make

delay in it, I certify to you that, with the help of God, we shall powerfully enter into your country, and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we can, and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and of their Highnesses; we shall take you and your wives and your children, and shall make slaves of them, and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their Highnesses may command; and we shall take away your goods, and shall do you all the mischief and damage that we can, as to vassals who do not obey, and refuse to receive their lord, and resist and contradict him; and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault, and not that of their Highnesses, or ours, nor of these cavaliers who come with us.

The Requerimiento of 1510• Written for the Spanish conquistadors by Juan

López de Palacios Rubios. – Proclaims the truth of Christianity, demands

the natives' immediate allegiance to Rome and Madrid, and provides a direct justification for a wide variety of aggressive actions.

• Authority has been given by God through the Pope.

– Was supposed to be read aloud (in Spanish or Latin) to the Natives before military action was taken.

• Natives would have not been able to understand it.• Was likely never actually read before battle.

– Instead, was used to show Europeans that the Spaniards were being “just” and “legal” in their treatment of the natives.

ColoniesWhat is a colony?• A body of people living in a

new territory but retaining ties with the parent state

Why establish a colony in these conquered territories?

– Christianize the natives.– Make money

Dividing up the Americas…• Explorers from Spain and Portugal first

began dividing up the New World in the 1500’s.– Treaty of Tordesillas

• Divides Americas between Spain and Portugal.– Originally proposed by the Pope!

• Soon, explorers from Britain, France, and the Netherlands looked to stake out their claims.

1674

Spreading Christianity• Catholic

missionaries built villages to gather the natives and convert them.– Missions

• Goal = Christianize Natives

• Built cathedrals, hospitals, orphanages, schools, and companies.

– Taught native children reading, writing, and arithmetic

Economics of a Colony• European countries

believed in mercantilism– A nation’s wealth

depends on its supply of gold and silver.

– Need to have a balance of trade that brings in wealth

• European wanted to establishing trading posts and colonies in the Americas.– These territories were

rich in raw materials, and a large profit could be made.

• Favorable balance of trade

Ways to make money…• Agriculture

– Creation of large estates with native laborers

• Plantations– “Cash Crops”

• Sugar and Tobacco

• Mining– Gold, Silver,

Diamonds, Raw Materials

• Trade– Take raw materials

from the colonies manufacture them in Europe, and sell them to the natives.

Manufacture the goods

• Spanish colonies begin using Encomiendas to work the land– Encomiendar - trust– Land and labor was

granted to former Conquistadors

• Natives must pay tribute and provide labor

• Spaniard must Christianize and “civilize” the natives

• Make the Connection: What system does this sound like?

Changes in Society…

Questions for tomorrow…

• How can the Spaniards insert themselves at the top of the social structure with very little effort?

• Who will provide the labor for the Europeans once the native population has been decimated?