How did the Broad Trends in Europe (and Where These
Europeans Went in the Americas) Lead to Differences in How the Europeans
Dealt with the Americas? This table provides a way for you to think through the differences in
the colonies. Look at each row in the table. For example, ask yourself what
is the difference in the practical consequence if the Europeans are
predominantly male or come with their families? Few in number and spread out
or concentrated in one place? Doing agriculture or trading with the native
population? Are individual farmers or large-scale (with many laborers needed)
agriculture? Believe they must convert the Indians or not? |
Trait |
Spanish |
French |
English |
Dutch |
Where they went? |
Central and |
|
Atlantic sea
coast |
Area later called |
Demographics of the colonies? |
450,000 through
mid-1600s Mainly male |
15,000 by 1700 Mainly male |
Families: > 2,000 in
early 1600s 50,000 by
mid-1600s |
Families: > 300 in early
1600s |
Demographics of the colonies? (Why would ordinary people come?) |
Catholicism dominated |
Protestants lived safely in |
As the link showing the English kings and
their religions reveals, there was regularly some group whose religion was
rejected by the crown. With persecution, families have a reason to take the
risk of taking women and children across the |
Although the
initial settlers were some Protestant refugees,[1]
once the Spanish–those persecuting the Protestants—were forced out of the |
Economy of colonies? |
Conquest Mining Agriculture, large
scale |
Fur trade—the coureurs de bois |
Agriculture Shipbuilding |
Fur trade Breweries Agriculture [2] |
Large landholdings? (feudal landholdings) |
Yes |
Yes, attempted but fails |
Attempted, fails
as feudalism but occurs with slavery in the South |
Yes, called
patroonships [3] |
Local governance? |
Primarily a
Spanish administration although your textbooks refers to some region
governance |
Primarily a French
administration |
Local governance
in the colonies, particularly in |
No, a Dutch
administration |
Missionary effort? |
Yes, sometimes by
forced conversion |
Yes, but they adapt the religion to the
Native Americans |
Some, but generally separate from the
Native Americans |
¾ |
Mix with the
native population, including intermarriage? |
Yes. Mainly a male population migrated. |
Yes. Mainly a male
population migrated. |
Rarely. Among the
reasons, migration of families in all areas but the South. |
¾ |
Copyright C. J. Bibus, Ed.D. 2003-2012 |
WCJC Department: |
History – Dr. Bibus |
Contact Information: |
281.239.1577 or bibusc@wcjc.edu |
Last Updated: |
2012 |
WCJC Home: |
[1]
This and the remaining entries in the column are
from the Oxford Companion to United States History, p. 199.
[2]
This and the remaining entries in the column are
from the Oxford Companion to United States History, p. 199.
[3]
This and the remaining entries in the column are
from the Oxford Companion to United States History, p. 199.