Europeans colonized North America for several key reasons: 1) Prejudice - European colonists viewed indigenous people as inferior and did not understand resistance to change. 2) Slavery - The slave trade brought thousands of Africans to work plantations, and many Europeans believed slavery was acceptable. 3) Economic factors - The "triangle trade" routed goods and slaves between West Africa, the Caribbean/American colonies, and Britain for mutual economic benefit, especially through the slave trade.

1. Chapter 2
Part 1:
Were Europeans justified in
colonizing North America?

2. Introduction
• What was a driving force behind imperialism?
• Was is imperialism?
• Was is colonialism?

3. Carving Up the World
• Which regions of North America did each
European Empire have control of in the late
17th century? Fig. 2-2
• British –
• Dutch –
• French –
• Portugese –
• Russian –
• Spanish –
Add colonies from p.46-50

4. • The Spanish and Portuguese were among the first
Europeans to esta trade and claim territories
overseas.
• The Pope gave his consent to treaties (1494 &
1529)that gave Spain control of the Americas and
the Philippines, and Portugal was entitled to
Africa, Asia, and Brazil.
• Protestant European nations were frustrated and
refused to recognize the terms of the treaties.
• The other nations needed to find somewhere else.

5. What Were the Factors Behind
Imperialism in North America?
Part 2

6. Introduction
• Colonies in N.A. were ruled by a governor from
the Empire (or home country).
• The governor made decisions for the colony.
• Colonies were expected to help the Empire get
rich by providing resources.
• In the Thirteen Colonies, trade was controlled by
laws called Navigation Acts.
• On the left side: What were the terms of the
Navigation Acts (1700s)?

7. 1.) Prejudice
• Definition?
• European colonists felt superior to other people –
ethnocentrism.
• Colonists viewed the “New World” as an
uninhabited land.
• Took pride in taming the “wilderness” of N.A.
• Did not understand why F.N. would not accept
change.

8. 2.) Slavery
• The Spanish and Portuguese were the first
Europeans to engage in slavery in the Americas by
forcing Indigenous people to work for them, but
overwork, massacres, and disease drastically
reduced their populations.
• By mid 1700s the West African slave trade brought
thousands of Africans to the Americas to work on
sugar cane, tobacco, and cotton plantations.
• Many Europeans believed that slavery was
acceptable.
• Read p.52-3.

9. 3.) Triangle Trade
• From West Africa to Caribbean & 13 Colonies
– slaves
• From Caribbean & 13 Colonies to England –
sugar, rum, fish, fur, and lumber
• From England to Africa – manufactured goods
to acquire more slaves
• Most people in Britain benefited from slavery
economically.