Motives For European Expansion To America

855 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The Expansion of Europe

Prior to 1490s, Europeans had already sailed down to west coast Africa and were having a long-established trade in African Slaves. Moreover, European expansion basis was the ambition for the trade and resources of Asia. They tried to expand further to Asia motivated by ambition for the trade and resources of Asia. Three centuries after Columbus’s discovery of America, various Europeans which are Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and Dutch were dominating Native American. They were occupying the Western Hemisphere and imported African slaves to work them in plantations. To understand more about Europeans motive expansion to America, we need to observe their political, cultural and economical aspect, particularly Spanish, English and French. Spanish expansion was indicated by Christopher Columbus arrival in America. He was exploring the southern and western America in their quest of gold. However, to begin with, Columbus, a Portuguese, ambition was to discover a new trade route to China so that he would receive financial backing for the Spanish merchants by his agreement with King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. Since the morale of the Spanish people were very high at that point in time, a new trade to China would be an expression for the crusading mentality of reconquista, of carrying Christianity to the people of Asia. Nonetheless, Columbus failed to find the new route to China, but he unexpectedly arrived on America. Moreover, he failed to find any gold, but the Spanish kingdom wanted to expand its empire in America to spread its religion and cultures. They sent missionaries, built churches, introduced European way of farming and growing crops in their colonies, and introduce the Native Americans to Spanish culture by encour... ... middle of paper ... ...s in America. Moreover, they were quite friendly to Native Americans and supported against the Five Nations of Iroquois. This helped French to have good relationship with Indian so that they could observe deep into Indian territories to find for new suppliers for fur trade. At the same time, the priest also tried to convince the Indians by spreading the Catholicism. Furthermore, unlike the Spanish and English, French Jesuits did not use Indians for forced labor and they were successful to convert Indians by providing Indian needs. In short, social, political and economical was not necessarily contribute the motivation of Europeans to settle in America. This is because Spain, England and France have different reason to come to America which was economic and religious factors that played an important role in contributing for their motive to expand to America.

Show More
Related

  • Analysis Of Victor And Vanquished

    1086 Words  | 3 Pages

    From 711-1492, Christian Spaniards lived under Moorish rule until eventually, the Christian Kingdoms took over during the Reconquista. The conflicts between the Muslims and Christians created a militaristic culture in Spain that surpassed that of any other European nation. Furthermore, being trained militarily was often exclusively attributed to the nobility however, in Spain, “many young men knew these skills and used them to their advantage.” Without a doubt, recently reconquering their homeland motivated the Spanish to a basis for expansion and conquest that most other European societies were lacking. In addition, the voyages of Christopher Columbus led to discovering the New World which undoubtedly contributed to added interest in conquest. Eventually, each conquest further raised Spanish hopes for fame and

    Read More

  • Dbq Columbian Exchange

    886 Words  | 2 Pages

    Their main goal was to come to the New World and spread Christianity, and they were determined to do so. Document 1 explains that from the minute they arrived in the Americas, the Europeans were instilling their religion into the Native people through friendship and gifts. Not to mention, Document 6 states, “missions were built to help spread Christianity.” It also says, “missions and settlements helped spread European languages.” By looking at Latin America today we can see how much the Spanish and Portuguese have helped mold what it is today.

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast British, French, and Spanish Imperial Goals in North America Between 1580 and 1763

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    Spain’s initial goals were to discover gold or other mineral wealth, explore the new world, spread Catholicism, and overall, continue Christopher Columbus’s goal of finding passage to the east.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast French And Spanish Colonization

    734 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the 1400’s European countries had been thrusted into overseas expansion in the fever for land and gold. All throughout Europe, monarchies had sent explorers all over the world to conquer land for their country. Each country had conquered and colonized in various styles, but each had a specific goal that they wanted to achieve. During the European colonization of the Americas or the New World, both the Spanish and the French spread the idea of Catholicism throughout the Americas, however the Spanish believed in treating the Native Americans in a harsher way by enslaving them for labor whereas the French established trade relationships.

    Read More

  • Columbian Exchange Argumentative Essay

    999 Words  | 2 Pages

    When they found the “new world” is too weak to resist the invasion of European, they started to establish the colony in America. Bartolomé de Las Casas used to be a priest who explored America on Hispaniola and Cuba. But after he witnessed the colonists enslave and mistreat Indians, he changed his mind and start to protect the Indians. He free his Indian slaves in 1514, and start to against Spanish mistreat them (Foner, p.7). After that, he made the effort to liberate the Indian slaves, and he had backed to Spain several times want to make the King reduce the heavy labor of Indians. Finally, Spain published New Laws in 1542, which indicate that Indians no longer be enslaved (Foner, p.7).

    Read More

  • Views on Overseas Expansion in 19th Century America

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    Arguments for and against overseas expansion raised a foreign policy debate in the late years of the 19th century to the early years of the 20th century. People favored overseas expansion because they wanted the American economy to grow. Missioners, who wanted to convert the inhabitants of the new lands, also propelled this new policy, and theories such as the Social Darwinism and the Manifest Destiny made people believed it was right for America to expand its frontiers and help the less fortune. But there were some who disagreed with overseas expansion because they looked at it as a hypocrisy act among Americans, or as a way of subjugating other nations just for America’s benefits. Some others were concerned that making contact with under-developed nations would eventually dilute their racial stock and the strength of America.

    Read More

  • American Imperialism In The 19th Century

    1219 Words  | 3 Pages

    Beginning in 1492, Spain had been the first European nation to sail westward across the Atlantic Ocean and colonize the Amerindian nations of the Western Hemisphere. The empire that came from this exploration extended from Virginia on the

    Read More

  • Westward Expansion and Imperialism

    654 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout most of the nineteenth century, the United States expanded its territory westward through purchase and annexation. At the end of the century, however, expansion became imperialism, as America acquired several territories overseas. This policy shift from expansionism to imperialism came about as a result of American's experience in the Spanish American War and the Congressional debates that followed the American victory.

    Read More

  • Western Expansion in America

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    The United States began as a group of 13 colonies controlled by Great Britain. These colonies won their independence in the American Revolution and became a unified country. Since that moment, the United States has been continuously expanding its borders. The Northwest Territory was gained as a result of the American Revolution, the Louisiana Territory was purchased from France, and the lands of California, New Mexico, and Texas were gained after the Mexican-American War. All of these gained lands helped expand the borders of the United States and develop the country into a global force. Expansion into the western lands of the United States became a growing trend in the early 19th century and continued to gain popularity amongst Americans. These lands promised a new start for some people, and for others, an opportunity for great wealth. Western expansion also created conflict between Americans. Competition for the best land, debates over slavery, and conflicts with Indians began to emerge with the increased expansion. The benefits and conflicts associated with western expansion defined the area and its role in America.

    Read More

  • The Negative Effects Of The European Exploration And Colonization Of North America

    941 Words  | 2 Pages

    Rough Draft Throughout the fifteenth and sixteenth century there was a great expansion into the European exploration and colonization of North America. Many Europeans sought to change their lives in the new world. Here, they could start a new life, and live free of the religious persecution occurring in Europe. The British were one of the main European groups who settled and colonized North America.

    Read More

  • Jesuits: Saviors or Heroes?

    1418 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Society of Jesus was founded by Ignatius Loyola in 1540, created as a military organization dedicated to missionary work across countries, the members of the association are identified as the Jesuits, they soon became known as being able to interweave the beliefs of Christianity with the customs of the local inhabitants (Bumsted, 2011). Between the years of 1632 to 1670 roughly a hundred Jesuit missionaries were sent to New France in an attempt to learn the Native languages, culture, and assimilate the local populace to European culture and Christianity (Welton, 2005). The integrating of the Jesuit s into the everyday lives of the Native peoples created more issues and hardship for the inhabitants than it did benefits. The Jesuits brought many foreign diseases to a group of people that were not accustomed to European illness like smallpox and measles. The Jesuits were also known as the “black robes”, they were known to bring sickness into most tribes they encountered. The mass epidemic of the disease ultimately leads to the down-fall of the Huron people; it lessened their numbers and made them vulnerable to attacks from the Iroquois. Lastly, the ultimate goal ofthe Jesuits was to assimilate and convert the First Nation peoples to Christianity which led to a massive erosion of culture and heritage within the tribes. The introduction of Catholicism and European values eradicated many traditional customs of the First Nation; such as the religious view of Animism, the role of females within the tribe, introduced a European educational curriculum, and illustrated a new understanding of life and death. The Jesuits were unsuccessful in their attempt to improve the lives of the First Nation inhabitants, for the reason that they brought a number of devastating diseases, aided in the down-fall of Huron people, and eroded traditional heritage

    Read More

  • Native American Patterns

    1711 Words  | 4 Pages

    He meant that economically open doors for countries throughout Europe to stimulate their economy. Describe the different global economies that Europeans participated in or created during the European age of expansion. A global economy was made solely reliant on produce of its province; gaining free labor from slaves also shipment bringing in byproduct colonies. This encouraged growth for Europe to extend their boarder and riches. One of the most striking features of Indian societies at the time of the encounter with Europeans was their diversity. Support this statement with several examples. Examples of this can be irrigation, roadway systems, the pyramids, and the diversity of different languages in different cities. Compare and contrast European values and ways of life with those of the Indians. Consider addressing religion, views about ownership of land, gender relations, and notions of freedom. The Indians believed that if they lived on property then it is theirs but if it is not inhabited then it is free where as Europeans believe that wealth comes from land ownership and fortune. Indian women won homes and tools and European women do not. What were the main factors fueling the European age of expansion? The main factors for expansion were resource, new route to India resource and pillaging. Compare the different economic and

    Read More

  • The Columbian Exchange

    1084 Words  | 3 Pages

    The immediate cause of the European voyages of discovery was the conquest of Constantinople by the Ottoman Turks in 1453. While Egypt and Italian city-state of Venice was left with a monopoly on ottoman trade for spices and eastern goods it allowed Portugal and Spain to break the grip by finding an Atlantic route. Portugal took the lead in the Atlantic exploration because of the reconquest from the Muslims, good finances, and their long standing seafaring traditions. In dealing with agriculture, The Portuguese discovered Brazil on accident, but they concentrated on the Far East and used Brazil as a ground for criminals. Pernambuco, the first area to be settled, became the world’s largest sugar producer by 1550. Pernambuco was a land of plantations and Indian slaves. While the market for sugar grew so did the need for slaves. Therefore the African Slave start became greatly into effect. Around 1511 Africans began working as slaves in the Americas. In 1492, Columbus embarked on his voyage from Spain to the Americas. The Euro...

    Read More

  • Spaniards Vs. English Colonization

    1358 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Spaniards arrived at the Americas prior to the English. The Spanish mainly wanted to explore in the first place because after the Black Death, the population increased, and thus, so did the frequency of commerce. There was a sudden new interest in new products and the new strong monarchs who sponsored the journeys wanted to be more affluent. Therefore, explorers such as Christopher Columbus attempted to go west to target Asia. However, he ended up on Cuba and called the natives Indians. The Spanish soon started to consider the Americas less of a blockage and could now see it as a source of resources. In 1518, Cortes arrived into Mexico with his group of conquistadors, or conquerors, which is a proper name because the men after gold exterminated native areas using their military skills, brutality and greed to turn the Southern America into a vast Spanish empire. The smallpox the Spanish unknowingly carried also helped wipe many people out. When they saw the religious ceremonies of the Aztecs that produced many skulls, they thought of these people as savages and not entirely human. This of coarse was quite hypocritical because the Spanish have killed before during the Inquisition for their faith. It was this contempt that made them think it was all right to slaughter the natives. Spanish colonies were established when conquistadors had gotten a license to finance the expedition from the crown to fixture encomiendas. These encomiendas were basically Indian villages that became a source of labor. The Spanish dreamed of becoming wealthier from South America, but they also wanted a profitable agricultural economy and to spread their Catholic religion (the Pueblo Indians converted to Christianity), which became very important in the 1540s.

    Read More

  • The 'New' Expansionism Ideas of the United States (1880-1914)

    1262 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the United States grew in power, so did her ideas of expansion. The foreign powers were beginning to move out of their continents and seek land in other countries. The United States soon followed. They followed in their founder’s footsteps and tried to occupy lands in the far seas. However, in the beginning, this need for more land was called Manifest Destiny. This idea claimed that God was forcing them to occupy the new western lands. The expansionism that occurred in the late 1800’s was not a result of Manifest Destiny, and thus this "new" idea of expansionism was different from the expansionism ideas of early America. For the most part, the United States’ need for more land was primarily to keep other nations (mainly European powers) out of the western hemisphere. However the United States began to see reason behind change towards the "new" expansionistic ideas.

    Read More

More about Motives For European Expansion To America

Open Document