American history

This is still Chapter One of the 'Rise of the American Nation' textbook that I had when I was in high school.

Spain grows powerful by exploiting its New World colonies

There are some vocabulary words to learn in this part that the teacher could use in other subjects if the happen to teach several different courses. The terms are: absolute kings (monarchs), viceroy, divine right of kings. The definitions of these terms will provide a better understanding of how politics worked back then in the era of the exploration of the New World.

The teacher can write on the blackboard the heading 'Locations where settlers and explorers settled'. Make a list.

1. Portugal- Brazil

2. Spain- South America, Central America, Mexico, Caribbean Sea, and the Southern tip of the US in the area of St. Augustine in 1565. In 1609, The Spaniards settled in Santa Fe and New Mexico.

Old Ways in the New World

(Again on the blackboard the teacher can list (if wanted) what the explorers brought over from the Old World.)

From the Portuguese and the Spaniards: animals, plants, seeds (that were not here in the New World) many were in pens and crates. They also had in barrels filled with earth, fruit and nut trees as well as seeds in bags that will be transplanted as sugar cane and flowers. There were also cattle and many farm animals that will be needed on the farms.

In 1580, the Portuguese and Spanish built there prosperous farms, ranches, and cities grew. They were digging gold and silver from the old Indian mines in Mexico along with them in Central and South America. They had seaports that allowed trade between the Old and New World.

The New World had also founded an educational system as well as printing books for the youth in the New World. Churches and missions were dotted the land and toward the end of the 1500's there were more than 150,000 Spaniards in the New World.

Colonies for the King

These colonies had the Spanish rulers who had complete or absolute power and were sometimes called 'absolute kings' and 'absolute monarchs', but the people living in the colonies had no voice in the government. The Spanish rulers claimed that God had given them the right to rule Spain and they were God's representatives on earth and were responsible only to God for their actions.

This theory of government was known as 'the divine right of kings'. The Spanish kings saw the colonies as his personal possessions. The land, people and the wealth it and they provided as he pleased. The King rewarded his followers 'loyal friends', advisors, nobles of Spain rich gifts of gold and silver, large grants of land, trading privileges and the right to operate the gold and silver mines. (The teacher will write these lists on the blackboard if desired.)

Crest of Spanish Power

The gold and silver of the New World were carried to Spain in 'treasure fleets'. (Write this term on blackboard and define.) It was an imposing sight for at the center were treasure-laden galleons (write term on blackboard) huge vessels for the day that were slow and clumsy but heavily armed. These galleons were surrounded by a convoy of smaller, swifter warships. Moved the wealth of the New World to the Old World.

In 1580, good luck in Spain for King Philip the II of Spain became ruler of Portugal as well. (A question the teacher could ask is "Why were the Spaniards themselves partly responsible for their failure to keep Spain the strongest nation in Europe?)

Answer: Easy money the Spaniards did not build industries to produce goods at home. Used gold and silver from America to buy from other countries the goods they needed. Spaniards could pay for it with goods that they needed to nor produce the goods for themselves.

England nibbles at then smashes Spanish Sea Power

The Englishmen and Dutchmen 'sea dogs' began nibbling at Spanish treasure ships in the Caribbean Sea. *John Hawkins is the first famous English 'sea dog' or better known as a 'pirate'. Elizabeth the first saw Hawkins as a hero. In the 1560's he began to transport slaves from Africa to the Spanish West Indies. This was against Spanish law. The Spanish noblemen who owned estates in the New World easily forgot the law and traded with the daring Englishmen.

To make an easier way to make money Hawkins decided to 'raid' Spanish seaports and attack Spanish treasure ships. (Teacher could ask if this reminded them of a literature book from another course. Answer: Treasure Island). Sir Francis Drake on his various ocean trips on his heavily armed vessels headed southward and sailed through the Strait of Magellan and into the Pacific. He then decided to turn northward skirting the Western coast of South America. Out in the waters between Peru and Panama he found unprotected ships loaded with treasure for the Spaniards did think an enemy would be around in these remote waters so no convoys were needed. (Write 'convoy' on the blackboard and ask students what this word means in the historical context of the time.)

Drake got received his plunder and continued northward not returning the way he came and spent winter on the coast of what is now California. Spring arrived and he sailed across the Pacific Ocean on the Pelican, the only remaining vessel. After crossing the Indian Ocean and going around the southern tip of Africa through the Atlantic Ocean to England in the autumn of 1580.

In 1588, Drake is now 'knighted' the 'Golden Hind' for Queen Elizabeth did not punish Drake for his actions of 'piracy' as King Philip of Spain wanted since Drake did not have permission from Queen Elizabeth. Now King Philip built a mighty fleet to invade and conquer England.

England gains freedom at sea

(Write on the blackboard the year 1588- This is a turning point in history. Spain with its powerful fleet destroyed and torn by troubles at home; began to decline in power. Still strong but Spain was no longer the most feared nation in Europe. Now it seemed that the countries of England, France and the Netherlands grew stronger. The English Royal Navy won the title 'Mistress of the Seas'. Now England was eager to start building colonies in the New World.

Englishmen learn about America for England heard stories of the New World from fishermen and as early as 1504 fishing boats from Europe made regular, yearly trips to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Even if these fishermen could not read or write they shared their experience about the Indians when they were along the fresh water coast to dry and salt their catch and traded furs with them.

In the 1580's an English geographer named Richard Hakluyt (HAK-loot) began gathering and editing these reports. Englishmen gained a wealth of information from these reports about the New World.

Two early colonies fail

Before the Spanish Armada two Englishmen by the names of Sir Humphrey Gilbert and Sir Walter Raleigh started to explore. In 1583, Gilbert's voyage which was supposed to be on the site of what is now St. John's, Newfoundland for Gilbert and crew were lost in a storm. Raleigh's voyage in 1584 at his own expense for a grant of land of all the eastern North American territory north of Spanish Florida. He named it Virginia. He had backing of many men. Raleigh organized an expedition to explore the Atlantic coast and returned with good reports in 1585 and Raleigh sent out his first group of colonists. The start of Roanoke Island of the coast of what is now North Carolina (teacher can find this area on the US map and point this site out.)

To be continued....

Any tip that you can give me will help me in my educational research in writing these articles. I would really appreciate it for it will also help me in my retirement plans. Thank you and stay safe.