The Colonization of North America, 1492-1783

II. THE FOUNDING OF NEW SPAIN (1492-1543) Spain during the Conquest The Occupation of the West Indies Beginnings of Colonial Administration and Policy Exploration of the Mainlan...

The fifteenth century witnessed the culmination of the Renaissance, the rise of the Turkish Empire, the shifting of the commercial center from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic,...

The discoveries of Columbus opened to Spain the opportunity to found a great colonial empire in the new world. For this work Spain had been prepared by the welding of the nation...

Philip's inheritance.--Charles V's stormy reign came to a close in 1556, when he abdicated in favor of his son, Philip II, who inherited Spain with its colonies, Naples, Milan,...

Mediaeval France and the Italian wars.--The history of Mediaeval France is largely the story of the struggle of the French kings to overthrow the feudal nobility and to perfect...

Periods of English activities.--While the French were colonizing Canada and the West Indies, and the Spaniards were opening mines and ranches in northern Mexico, the English wer...

James I.--When James Stuart came to the throne, he had an exalted idea of the kingship, believing that he ruled by divine right. The Tudors had wielded almost absolute power, th...

The Puritans.--While the planting of colonies on the shores of Chesapeake Bay and on the Caribbean islands was in progress, other settlements were being formed in New England by...

Attitude of the colonies during the Puritan Revolution.--The personal rule of Charles I came to an end in 1641 and for eight years England was convulsed with civil war. During t...

Commercial expansion of the Netherlands.--During the reign of Philip II occurred the revolt in the Netherlands. Spanish political and commercial restrictions, and the establishm...

The Restoration.--In 1660 Charles II was restored to the English throne and ruled until 1685, when his brother, James, the Duke of York, became king, ruling until deposed in 168...

The period of the later Stuarts was remarkable for colonial expansion. New Netherlands was acquired, the Jerseys, Pennsylvania, and the Carolinas were founded, the Hudson's Bay...

At the close of the Stuart period the English mainland colonies stretched along the Atlantic coast from Pemaquid to Port Royal. The settlements nestled close to the coasts, in t...

Decline of Spanish power in Europe.--After the reign of Philip II the power of Spain steadily declined. The long period of hostility with the Dutch and the war with Cromwell gre...

The impending conflict.--Before the close of the Stuart period, it was evident that a great international struggle was at hand. Louis XIV of France aspired to overshadow England...

Applicants for La Salle's grant.--During the War of the Palatinate Louis XIV showed little desire to develop La Salle's plan for a colony on the Gulf. In the interim, however, a...

The advance of the French into Louisiana and the Trans-Mississippi West stimulated a new counter movement northeastward by the Spaniards from Chihuahua, New Mexico, and Coahuila...

The colonization of North America by the English was not complete with the founding of the seaboard settlements, but continued in a series of steps westward. At each step Americ...

Population and settled area.--By 1760 the population of the English continental colonies was probably 1,650,000; of these the New England colonies contained about a half-million...

Before 1689 English colonial administration had been largely a personal matter with the king. Royal control had been exercised through the Privy Council assisted by advisory com...

Spanish dynastic ambitions.--From 1715 to 1739 the relations of England and Spain were frequently strained, due to the clashing of commercial and colonial interests, or to the a...

Effect of the Seven Years' War.--The outcome of the Seven Years' War caused several readjustments in Spanish North America. It left Spain in a position where she must restore he...

Amherst's plan for defence.--While the Spaniards were occupying western Louisiana the British were organizing the country ceded by France and Spain east of the Mississippi, in C...

Nature of the causes.--While British statesmen were working out a system of government for the newly acquired domains, in the empire forces of disintegration were at work which...

Enforcement of the Association.--The Association adopted by the Continental Congress was approved throughout the colonies. In county and town meetings, in assemblies, provincial...

Preparations to defend New York.--After the evacuation of Boston it was realized that New York would be a probable point of attack and great exertions were made to put it in a s...

The withdrawal from Quebec.--While Washington's army rested at White Plains, heartening news came from the north; and especially good news it was, for during the summer the repo...

The French motives.--On February 6, 1778, France entered into an alliance with the United States. That event changed the war from a struggle between England and her former colon...

Alvord, C.W., "Virginia and the West," in _Mississippi Valley Historical Review_, III, 19-38; Alvord, C.W., ed., _Kaskaskia Records, 1778-1700_, Introduction; Gayarre, C, _Histo...

Conquest of Georgia.--When France became the ally of the United States, British statesmen realized that the conquest of New England and the middle states was impossible, but the...

The Association a step toward sovereignty.--The First Continental Congress was called to deliberate and determine upon measures to recover rights and liberties of which the colo...