COLONIZATION AND SETTLEMENT (1585–1763)

English, French, and Spanish Colonies: A Comparison

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THE HISTORY OF COLONIAL NORTH AMERICA centersprimarily around the struggle of England, France, andSpain to gain control of the continent. Settlerscrossed the Atlantic for different reasons, and theirgovernments took different approaches to their colo-nizing efforts. These differences created both advan-tages and disadvantages that profoundly affected theNew World’s fate. France and Spain, for instance,were governed by autocratic sovereigns whose rulewas absolute; their colonists went to America as ser-vants of the Crown. The English colonists, on the

other hand, enjoyed far more freedom and were ableto govern themselves as long as they followed Englishlaw and were loyal to the king. In addition, unlikeFrance and Spain, England encouraged immigrationfrom other nations, thus boosting its colonial popula-tion. By 1763 the English had established dominancein North America, having defeated France and Spainin the French and Indian War. However, thoseregions that had been colonized by the French orSpanish would retain national characteristics thatlinger to this day.

Settlements/Geography

Population Sources

Government

Religion

Economy

Population Growth

Relations withNative Americans

English Colonies

Most colonies established by royal char-ter. Earliest settlements were in Virginiaand Massachusetts but soon spread allalong the Atlantic coast, from Maine toGeorgia, and into the continent’s interioras far as the Mississippi River.

Colonists were recruited from amongmiddle-class farmers, artisans, andtradesmen. Indentured servants, spe-cialists in certain areas (i.e., sawmillworkers, lumbermen), and convictedcriminals were also brought over.Immigrants from other countries werewelcomed.

Distance from England and a frugalParliament allowed colonists to set uplocal governments and representativeassemblies and to tax themselves, aslong as they did not take up armsagainst the Crown.

Largely non-Catholics. Although sometolerance was practiced in mostcolonies, the Puritans in Massachusettsestablished an autocratic and restrictivereligious leadership. Pennsylvania man-dated complete tolerance.

Diverse economic activities includedfarming, fishing, and trading. Exportsincluded tobacco, rice, timber, and fish.Tobacco was the main source of rev-enue in the Virginia and North Carolinacolonies.

Rapid growth due to liberal immigrationpolicies. By 1627 Virginia had approxi-mately 1,000 settlers. By 1754 totalpopulation in the English colonies hadgrown to 1.5 million; this included largeproportions of German and French.

Originally friendly; early colonists reliedon Native Americans for trade and forhelp with survival. Eventually greed forland led to major conflicts with Indians.

French Colonies

First colonies were trading posts inNewfoundland; others followed in wakeof exploration of the St. Lawrence valley,parts of Canada, and the MississippiRiver. Settlements include Quebec(1608) and Montreal (1642). Louisianasettled in the late 1600s.

Initially fur traders, merchants, and mis-sionaries. In 1665 some 1100 Frenchsoldiers arrived and were given land.Neither Protestants nor peasant farmerswere allowed to emigrate.

Colonies were fully subject to the Frenchking. There were no political rights orrepresentative government, and publicmeetings could not be held without per-mission.

Even though Protestants had played arole in the founding of New France, fromaround 1659 on they were excludedfrom the colony. Colonial life was largelycontrolled by the French Catholic clergy.

Although the French government encour-aged farming efforts, the fur tradeproved to be more lucrative. Plantationsestablished in the Mississippi valleylargely failed.

Slow growth; by 1672 no more than5,000 colonists had settled throughoutNew France. In Canada the French pop-ulation totaled just under 40,000 by1734. In Louisiana, by 1763 there wereapproximately 10,000 settlers, including5,000 slaves and Acadians.

Despite conversion efforts of missionar-ies, French respect for Native Americansallowed many to forge alliances, espe-cially in their wars against the British.

Spanish Colonies

Crown-sponsored conquests gained rich-es for Spain and expanded its empire.Most of the southern and southwesternregions claimed, as well as sections ofthe California coast. Settlements includeSt. Augustine, Florida (1565); Santa Fe,New Mexico (1610); and numerouscities in Texas and California.

Conquistadores, soldiers, and mission-aries were the primary Spanish coloniz-ers; farmers and traders came later.

Colonies were governed by crown-appointed viceroys or governors.Settlers had to obey the king’s laws andcould make none of their own.

Settlers were restricted to Catholics;Protestants were persecuted and drivenout.

Largely a trading economy; some farm-ing in the West. Commerce was con-trolled by the Spanish board of trade,with regulations enforced by theSpanish military.

Slow growth due to greater emphasis onmilitary conquest, poor relations withNative Americans, and numerous earlyfailures to establish permanent settle-ments. Largest Spanish populationswere in Florida, Texas, California, andMexico.

Spanish missionaries saw NativeAmericans as heathens to be convertedto Christianity; soldiers viewed them asfit only for killing or subjugation.