USA HISTORY

FIRST CONTACTS 28000 BCE 1821 CE

SPANISH COLONIES

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What was one reason the Spanish (after Columbus) came to North America?
A
Spices
B
Gold
C
Freedom of religion
D
Make money
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The Thirst for Gold When Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) arrived in the Americas in 1492, the one commodity that all European monarchs craved was gold. With this precious yellow metal, armies, mercenaries, and gunpowder weapons could be paid for, and their kingdoms could be defended and expanded.

Detailed explanation-2: -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.

Detailed explanation-3: -In 1493, during his second voyage, Columbus founded Isabela, the first permanent Spanish settlement in the New World, on Hispaniola. After finding gold in recoverable quantities nearby, the Spanish quickly overran the island and spread to Puerto Rico in 1508, to Jamaica in 1509, and to Cuba in 1511.

Detailed explanation-4: -To Columbus, driven by the search for the wealth that would be a tangible indicator of a successful voyage, the discovery of vast quantities of gold would represent both a personal reward and a vindication of his vision.

There is 1 question to complete.