Colonialism in the Americas

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The establishment of European colonies in the Americas and their impact on indigenous peoples.

European exploration and colonization: A historical account of the first Europeans to explore and settle in the Americas, including the Spanish, French, English, Dutch, and Portuguese.
The Columbian Exchange: The exchange of plants, animals, ideas, and diseases between the Old and New Worlds after the voyage of Christopher Columbus.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas: The complex and diverse civilizations that existed in the Americas before and during the colonial period, including the Inca, Maya, Aztec, and many others.
Encomienda and slavery: The systems of forced labor that European powers implemented in the Americas, from the Spanish encomienda system to the African slave trade.
Colonial economics: The ways in which European powers exploited natural resources, established trade networks, and created economic systems in the Americas.
Missionary work and religious conversion: The role of religious orders in the colonization of the Americas, including the conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity.
Colonial governance: The political structures put in place by European powers in the Americas, from the Spanish viceroyalties to the English colonial charters.
Resistance and rebellion: The various forms of resistance against colonial rule, from indigenous uprisings to slave revolts.
Settler colonialism: The long-term process of European settlement and displacement of indigenous populations in places like North America and Australia.
Legacy of colonialism: The lasting impacts of colonialism on the Americas, including cultural identity, geopolitical structure, and economic development.
Spanish Colonialism: The Spanish took over much of Central and South America, bringing with them their language, culture, and religion.
French Colonialism: The French took over parts of Canada and Louisiana, establishing trading posts and attempting to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
Portugese Colonialism: The Portugese colonized Brazil and imposed their language, culture, and religion on the indigenous peoples who lived there.
English Colonialism: The English colonized the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States, establishing colonies and trading with Native American tribes.
Dutch Colonialism: The Dutch colonized the Hudson River Valley and established New Amsterdam, which would later become New York City.
Russian Colonialism: The Russians colonized Alaska and established trading posts with local Native American tribes.
Swedish Colonialism: The Swedish established a colony in Delaware, but it was short-lived and was eventually taken over by the Dutch.
Danish Colonialism: The Danes established several colonies in the Caribbean, but most were sold or taken over by other European powers.
German Colonialism: The Germans established a colony in what is now Cameroon, but their colonial efforts were limited compared to other European powers.
"Colonialism is a practice by which a country controls people or areas, often by establishing colonies, generally for strategic and economic advancement."
"Colonialism is etymologically rooted in the Latin word 'Colonus', which was used to describe tenant farmers in the Roman Empire."
"Colonialism has existed since ancient times."
"The concept is most strongly associated with the European and Japanese empires."
"Starting in the 15th century and extending to the mid-1900s."
"At first, conquest followed policies of mercantilism, aiming to strengthen the home-country economy."
"Agreements usually restricted the colony to trading only with the metropole (mother country)."
"By the mid-19th century."
"Missionaries were active in practically all of the European-controlled colonies because the metropoles were Christian."
"Historian Philip Hoffman calculated that by 1800, before the Industrial Revolution, Europeans already controlled at least 35% of the globe."
"By 1914, they had gained control of 84% of the globe."
"Colonial powers retreated between 1945 and 1975; over which time nearly all colonies gained independence, entering into changed colonial, so-called postcolonial and neocolonialist relations."
"The coloni sharecroppers started as tenants of landlords, but the system evolved so they were permanently indebted to the landowner and were trapped in servitude."
"The system evolved so they were permanently indebted to the landowner and were trapped in servitude."
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"No quote directly answers this question."
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