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Questions and Answers
What economic policy involved the state controlling trade to increase its power?
What was the primary reason for the increased demand for laborers in the Americas?
Which group was primarily used to meet labor demands starting in the late-17th century?
Which trading practice involved a triangular trade system that funded the purchase of slaves?
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What societal aspect distinguished Iroquois culture?
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What was a significant outcome of the Beaver Wars in the 17th century?
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What was the common land philosophy held by most American Indian tribes?
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What role did joint stock investment play in funding expeditions?
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What was one consequence of Old World diseases on the New World population?
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What was a characteristic of the Encomienda System implemented by the Spanish?
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Which two nations were the wealthiest and most powerful in Europe during the early colonial period?
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Which of the following commercial practices contributed to the success of English and Dutch colonies?
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What was the racial hierarchy in Spanish colonial society?
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Which colony was established in 1607 and later contributed to the formation of the United States?
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What was a primary goal of the English, Dutch, and French during their colonial expansions?
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Which of the following statements best describes the Spanish Maritime Empire's focus?
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Study Notes
The Columbian Exchange
- Trade between the New World and Old World resulted in the exchange of plants, animals, diseases, and cultures.
- The New World introduced Tobacco, cacao, corn, potatoes, tomatoes, and pumpkins to the Old World.
- The Old World introduced rice, coffee, wheat, okra, and livestock to the New World.
- Old World diseases, like measles, smallpox, and influenza, devastated the New World population, resulting in the death of 90% of Native Americans.
- Syphilis was introduced to the Old World from the New World.
The Spanish Maritime Empire
- Spain focused on acquiring gold, silver, and cash crops from the New World.
- The Spanish Empire, known as New Spain, stretched from South America to California.
- Disease and conquistadors decimated Native American civilizations in Central and South America.
- The Encomienda System allowed Spanish conquerors and settlers to control land grants, labor, and implement forced Christianization on Native Americans.
- A hierarchical racial caste system developed, placing Spanish-born individuals (Peninsulares) at the top, followed by those born in the Americas (Criollos).
- A racist hierarchy based on skin color placed darker colors lower in society.
The English, Dutch, and French
- The wealth and power of Portugal and Spain prompted other European nations to establish colonies.
- England established colonies in North America, with the founding of the Virginia Colony in 1607 laying the foundation for the future United States.
- The Netherlands created trade posts and small colonies, including New Amsterdam (later New York City), founded in 1624.
- France settled New France in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River regions, establishing missionaries and trading posts with tribes like the Huron and Algonquian.
- By the late 17th century, England, the Netherlands, and France surpassed the Spanish and Portuguese empires in terms of naval, military, and economic power.
New Settlement Methods
- Innovative commercial practices allowed England and the Netherlands to surpass Spain, Portugal, and France.
- Investors and companies financed and managed colonies independently.
- Entities like the Virginia Company, the British East India Company, and the Dutch East India Company were granted charters to settle colonies.
- These companies raised funds to build mercenary soldiers and navies for defense against Native American forces, Europeans, and pirates.
- This enabled widespread colonial presence in the Indian Ocean, Caribbean, and North America, increasing resources and tax revenue for England and the Netherlands.
- While many companies failed, they were key in expanding English and Dutch trade and settlements globally.
Evolving Economic Practices
- Wealthy investors utilized joint-stock investment to fund expeditions.
- The British, Dutch, and French employed corporations to protect individual assets in case of company failure or lawsuits.
- Increased settlement led to a higher demand for agricultural and mining labor in the Americas.
- The demand for labor outpaced the supply of Native workers and indentured servants.
- Beginning in the late 17th century, African slaves from Western African kingdoms were brought to the Americas to meet labor demands, primarily sourced by Portuguese merchants.
- A triangular trade system emerged, where profits from colonies returned to Europe and funded further slave purchases.
Mercantilism and Colonialism
- Mercantilism: An economic policy aimed at strengthening the power of a state through state-controlled trade.
- England sought to accumulate wealth and resources, weakening rivals like France, Spain, and the Netherlands.
- Mercantilism encouraged exports and discouraged imports through tariffs.
- The theft or disruption of rival maritime trade and land holdings in the New World was a key component of mercantilism.
- New World land holdings served as homes for European settlers and a source of wealth for the mother state.
- Colonialism: The policy of using New World settlements, including settlers, slaves, and Native Americans, to increase wealth for a mother state.
American Indian Society
- Native Americans traded furs with Europeans in exchange for manufactured goods like steel axes, picks, nails, and guns.
- Conflicts arose among Northeastern tribes, like the Iroquois Confederacy, over territory and trade empires fueled by a desire for European weapons.
- The Mohawk practiced a matriarchal society, with ancestral names passed down through females.
- Gender roles were distinct, with men focusing on physical tasks, hunting, and combat, while women played central roles in society, politics, and agriculture.
- Most tribes did not recognize private property, instead operating on a common land philosophy based on shared resources.
The Beaver Wars
- The Beaver Wars were a series of conflicts in the 17th century between the Iroquois Confederacy and the Algonquin and Huron peoples.
- The Iroquois Confederacy sought...
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Description
Explore the significant exchanges between the New and Old Worlds during the Columbian Exchange, including the transfer of crops, animals, and diseases. Additionally, examine Spain's maritime empire, its focus on wealth acquisition, and the impact of disease and conquest on Native American civilizations.
