In the early history of the 1600’s, North America had been discovered and establishment of the New World had begun. Although Spain and England both focused on the colonization and exploration of the Americas, their ambitions and goals were very different. The most important reasons for English colonization were religious freedom, to seek refuge, and new economic opportunities. The Spanish, on the other hand, exploited the New World in search of gold and silver, greed navigated their search. Although both the English and the Spanish experienced mild success, the English tactics for daily survival were much more organized and peaceful.
Permanent English colonies arose in the early 1600’s due to a charter from the Virginia Company. There were two groups included in the Virginia Company, one in London and one in Plymouth. Each group received land and the start of the English colonization was soon beginning. Jamestown, a division from the London group, was the first permanent English colony to be settled in 1607. The Virginia Company of London funded this tour. Struggle and despair describes the early years of the settlement. Settlers were lazy, and avoided manual labor at all costs. Few individuals had agricultural skills. These settlers expected the Indians to provide food for them. When none was furnished, hunger and death soon prevailed. One individual, John Smith, is accredited for his leadership skills in order to save the failing New World. After many years of the colony struggling, John Smith stepped forward as the leader of the group. He executed many strict demands regarding the policies of the town. He was know for his smart thinking, fast skills, and leadership ability. After one encounter with an Indian hunting party, John Smith escaped death due to his proficient thinking.
The Essay on Religion In Early Virginia
In a harsh new world, Virginia's English colonists were supported by an ancient and familiar tradition, the established church. The law of the land from 1624 mandated that white Virginians worship in the Anglican church (The Church of England) and support its upkeep with their taxes. Where religion was an integral part of everyday life in Virginia, the lines blurred between religious and civil ...
Smith’s life was saved due to the intervention of the Indian chief’s daughter, Pocohontas. Smith’s strict authoritative beliefs and standards only lasted one year and company officials removed him from command. By the year 1609, Virginia Company had realized that failure was eminent; and offered stock and land to emigrants as a final attempt to salvage the New World colonization. A new leader, Sir Thomas Dale, took over in May 1611. His tactics and beliefs proved to more extreme than John Smiths. He established the Laws Divine, Morall, and Martiall article. These laws forced cruel and unusual punishment for crimes and la of labor in the work force. Prospective emigrants were soon very discouraged from entering the New World, and the colony suffered more.
Tobacco soon emerged and became a staple crop. Labor needs multiplied and the English settlers pruchased slaves from Africa to do the work. English common law replaced martial law and appealed favorable to the emigrants now. Tobacco ensured Virginia’s economic success, since it quickly grew in popularity and demand. Although the colonies way of life seemed to be improving, they still faced daily conflicts. Life expectancy was only about forty years. Mortality rates were high and population rates grew slowly. Disease was everywhere, and many died from lack of medicines and vaccines. Despite these struggles, immigration to the colonies continued as economic promise held true.
The other group funded by the Virginia Company, acquired land from what is now Maine to Virginia. These settlers were seeking a place to practice religion freely, without prosecution. An agreement was formed between the settlers and the Virginia Company that a fair trade of fish, fur, and lumber would ensure funding for their expedition. In September 1620, these sailors set forth for the New World. Their ship, the Mayflower, reached shallow waters and panic set in. Out of desperation, weary travelers decided to set up their colonies at Plymouth, despite the fact that this wasn’t the original destination. Problems began to occur since they were outside of their jurisdiction with the Virginia Company. No legal basis could be establish governing procedures for claiming land.
The Essay on Ever World Land Of Loss
Everworld is the place where the ancient gods of earth went eons ago, taking their followers with them, but leaving most of humanity behind. As Christopher explains, 'Somehow, someway, for some reason, the old gods of Earth decided to abandon the real world. We didn't know why. Just knew that the gods of the Norsemen and the gods of the Greeks and the gods of the Aztecs and the Inca and the ...
Revolts were promising since the colonists questions the authority of the Pilgrim leader. A social agreement was soon drawn up, called the Mayflower Compact, which established precedent laws. Eventually, the merchants obtained a title to the land. Difficult years lie ahead, and many died of illness. Native Americans helped with planting crops, despite the ill ways of prior Englishmen. The colony continued to grow and prosper, but the settlers had trouble meeting their trade agreement. In 1626, the London merchants accepted failure and sold the land to the colonists. Plymouth’s economy continued to grow and thrive, but nowhere near the extremes of the larger group of English settlers.
The Spanish settlers also were exploring the New World, although they found land by accident. The original voyage was to search for shorter passage from Portugal to China. The Spanish thought they had hit a gold mine and decided to exploit the New World for its gold and silver. Conquistadors hoped to make a fortune and be able to retire back to Spain. Religion posed a serious clash of views between the Spanish and the Native Americans. The Spanish felt that Catholicism religious practices were the only accepted form of religion, and tried to force the Indians to convert. Those who refused to convert were made nto slaves solely for the Spanish to exploit. As the Spanish colonies took over more and more land, a colonial government was established. It’s sole purpose was to convert the Indians and bring them under the control of the Spanish monarchy. Sovereignty rested in the monarch. Economic activity continued to flourish as trade was strictly regulated. Silver and gold flourished, and inflation helped stabilize the economy.
Both Spanish and English settlers encountered many problems in the colonization of the New World. Hunger, disease, and death was a problem suffered by both groups of settlers. Similar to the English, the Spanish also colonized the lands of the New World and developed large cities, which served as political and economic centers. Although they both explored the New World, there ambitions and methods of achieving them showed many differences. First, there were differences in how the government was run. The Spanish employed officials to rule the New World, whereas the English relied on direct ties to the royalty to help run their colonies. Secondly, the treatment of Indians varies differently between the two groups. The English acquired slaves from Africa for the required labor needs. Spain forced Indians it a life of slaver when they refused to convert to the Spanish accepted religion.
The Term Paper on Spanish Settlers in the V Century + Jamestown and Plymouth Colonies in the Vii Century
... and why did Spanish settlers go to the Americas? What were the effects of Spanish conquest? -1492: ... cleared vast tracks of forested land and inadvertently introduced Old World weeds. The introduction of cattle, ... of John Smith, one of the first English settlers, in 1607. It is not clear whether ... the first Thanksgiving. -Pocahontas: Pocahontas, the Indian princess born around 1595 was the favorite ...
Lastly, their motives for exploration were vastly different. Spain’s motives were to plunder gold and riches from the Indians; whereas the English were more interested in natural wealth and freedom of religion . In conclusion , I would say that Jamestown’s method of establishing a functional New World resembles that Spanish “model” of colonization more than the Plymouth’s methods. This can be shown by the authoritative manner in which John Smith and Sir Thomas Dale forced people to work on the Jamestown settlement. I relate this likeness to the manner in which the Spanish forced the Indians to convert to their religion, or fear the life of slavery. They both used slaves for labor needs, only they acquired them from different areas. Fear seemed to play a big motivation factor for many settlers. In order to have worked preformed, the people in power towered over the settlers and forced them to work. Efforts paid off, since economic success was the results. The English seemed to be kinder overall and a more efficient method of achieving goals than the Spanish.
