The French and Spanish came to the New World for economic gain, including to find precious metals and establish trade routes.
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The French and Spanish arrived in the New World for various reasons, including economic gain, religious motivation, and political power. The desire for wealth was one of the main factors for their exploration, as they hoped to find precious metals such as gold and silver. They also aimed to establish trade routes, particularly in the Caribbean for the Spanish and in the St. Lawrence Valley for the French.
As French explorer Jacques Cartier stated, “I am certain that this land which we have discovered is the richest and most beautiful that can be found in the world.” The Spanish were motivated by the abundance of precious metals, as one historian notes, “The looting of Aztec and Inca treasuries filled Spanish coffers with vast amounts of gold and silver”.
Aside from economic reasons, the French and Spanish also looked to spread their religious beliefs. The Spanish, in particular, had a strong desire to convert the indigenous populations to Catholicism. As historian Felipe Fernández-Armesto writes, “What motivated the Spanish? Above all, since theirs was a religious enterprise, the notion that they were answerable to God for the souls of native Americans.”
In terms of political power, the French and Spanish hoped to expand their territorial claims and thereby increase their influence and prestige among European nations. The French sought to establish a permanent settlement in the St. Lawrence Valley to secure their control over the area, while the Spanish set up colonies throughout the Caribbean and South America.
Interesting facts:
- Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes is credited with bringing horses to the New World, which had a significant impact on the development of Native American cultures.
- The Spanish established the first permanent European settlement in North America, St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565.
- French explorer Samuel de Champlain is often called the “Father of New France” for establishing the first permanent French settlement in Quebec City in 1608.
- The French and Indian War (1754-1763) was a significant conflict between the French and British that had far-reaching consequences for the colonization of North America.
Table:
| Spanish | French |
|---|---|
| – Focused primarily on South and Central America. | – Mainly established settlements in modern-day Canada and the United States. |
| – Often used military force to subjugate native populations. | – Formed alliances with some Native American tribes, such as the Huron, to help secure their control over the fur trade. |
| – Converted native populations to Catholicism. | – Initially focused on the fur trade rather than colonization. |
| – Established a rigid caste system that segregated European settlers from native populations. | – Encouraged migration to New France by offering land grants to settlers and allowing freedom of religion. |
See a video about the subject
The video discusses the reasons behind European exploration and colonization of the Americas, including the need for resources and wealth in the Orient and advancements in shipbuilding and navigation. The Spanish Empire became the first country to conquer and colonize the New World, followed by the English colonies. The video highlights several successful English, French, and Swedish colonial settlements in what is now the United States, as well as the millions of European migrants who left Europe and immigrated to the Americas during the colonial era. The massive influx of immigrants resulted in job competition, religious discrimination, and protests across the country, leading to the establishment of immigration quotas in the early 1900s. Today, the majority of US immigrants come from Asia and Latin America, marking a shift from historical immigration patterns.
Additional responses to your query
French exploration Like Spain, France was a Catholic nation and committed to expanding Catholicism around the globe. In the early sixteenth century, it joined the race to explore the New World and exploit the resources of the Western Hemisphere.
Both the Spanish and the French explored and settled the New World in search of new commodities and minerals to exploit in order to gain wealth for their home economies and to expand their territorial rules to obtain or retain political dominance.
In addition, people ask
Also question is, Why did French come to New World?
Answer will be: Motivations for colonization: The French colonized North America to create trading posts for the fur trade. Some French missionaries eventually made their way to North America in order to convert Native Americans to Catholicism.
Beside this, Why did France England and Spain come to the New World?
Introduction. By the early to mid-seventeenth century, Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands were all competing for colonies and trade around the world. Beginning in the late fifteenth century, explorers, conquerors, missionaries, merchants, and adventurers sought to claim new lands to colonize.
Furthermore, What were the Spanish reasons for coming to the New World?
Motivations for colonization: Spain’s colonization goals were to extract gold and silver from the Americas, to stimulate the Spanish economy and make Spain a more powerful country. Spain also aimed to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
Why and when did the French come to the New World? As a response to this: French exploration
In the early sixteenth century, it joined the race to explore the New World and exploit the resources of the Western Hemisphere. In 1534, navigator Jacques Cartier claimed northern North America for France, naming the area around the St. Lawrence River New France.
In this regard, Why did the Spanish colonize the New World? The Spanish, threatened by the Portuguese monopoly on enslaved Africans and expansion in the Atlantic, started their own colonization project with Christopher Columbus in 1492. The competition between the two nations continued and drew more and more Europeans to the New World. Christopher Columbus. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons What do you think?
How did the Spanish influence the French?
Response to this: Imperial Rivalries. The enormous wealth that the Spanish had extracted from their Central and South American colonies impressed the French and stirred them to action.
Beside above, Why did European explorers go to the New World?
Each of the major European powers—Spain, France, the Netherlands, and England—sent explorers to the New World. Colonization, or the desire to establish permanent settlements, soon followed. Some of these European countries fought one another for control over trade and the riches of the New World.
Why did the French colonize North America? Answer to this: In the early sixteenth century, it joined the race to explore the New World and exploit the resources of the Western Hemisphere. In 1534, navigator Jacques Cartier claimed northern North America for France, naming the area around the St. Lawrence River New France.
Simply so, Why did the Spanish colonize the New World? The Spanish, threatened by the Portuguese monopoly on enslaved Africans and expansion in the Atlantic, started their own colonization project with Christopher Columbus in 1492. The competition between the two nations continued and drew more and more Europeans to the New World. Christopher Columbus. Image credit: Wikimedia Commons What do you think?
Keeping this in view, How did the French and Spanish approach the New World? The response is: In short, there are many similarities in the way the French and Spanish approached the new world. Both desired territory, wealth and power. However, the differences between the two are stark in two areas in particular. First, the treatment of the native peoples. The French by and large took a more friendly approach to Native Americans.
People also ask, How did the Spanish influence the French? As an answer to this: Imperial Rivalries. The enormous wealth that the Spanish had extracted from their Central and South American colonies impressed the French and stirred them to action.
One may also ask, Why did European explorers go to the New World?
Each of the major European powers—Spain, France, the Netherlands, and England—sent explorers to the New World. Colonization, or the desire to establish permanent settlements, soon followed. Some of these European countries fought one another for control over trade and the riches of the New World.