What does the differences between the colonies established by the European nations tell us? (Part 1)

When we look at the colonies established by the European powers in the New World, we can learn much more than simply where they had established their colonies. If we look at what the colonies of different European nations are composed of, how they are administrated, what their society look likes, and ask ourselves why it came to be that way, we will realize that it can tell us much more about the social conditions exiting within the European nations at that time.

Yes, religious motives, wealth, power, trade, resources, pride, and fame, are all powerful and well known motives, but I believe certain conditions existing within the European nations also affect the extend to which they colonize the New World.

In our reading, we are already aware of the difference between the colonies of the different empires. We read about how the English colonies were settler societies, which attracted enormous about of settlers, while the French colonies were literally commercial ventures made by companies who come to the new World to do business, especially with the Indians, and the Spanish colonies were hierarchical plantation systems and are often urban based. We also noticed some interesting aspects of the New World colonization. For example, while English indentured servants remained in the New World after their terms are up, the French indentured servants sent to Canada decided to move back to France once their contracts are finished.

Now, lets look at the social conditions within the mother country.

WE WILL START WITH THE ENGLISH SOCIETY

For England, we have already read in the book, there is the social crisis. The late Sixteenth century was a time of social crisis in England, with economic growth unable to keep pace with the needs of a growing population (3 million in 1550 to about 4 million in 1600). In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, landlords, introducing more modern farming practices such as crop rotation, also evicted small farmers and fenced in "commons" previously open to all, this cause English peasants to loose their plots of land that they had enjoyed a secure hold on. As this process, which was called the "enclosure" movement, continues, those who are evicted move into the cities. In the same time many problems arise, both as a result of the enclosure movement and due to other reasons....

• including...
• Decrease of wages in English cities due to the influx of unemployed population
• Increase in crime, as the unemployed and evicted become rogues, vagabonds, and vagrants, looking for work.
• Increase in prices of goods in Europe, caused by the influx of gold and silver from the mines of Latin America into Spain
• As a result...
• 50% of population in England society live below poverty line

Also, Local communities bore the full burden of taking care of these poor people, and many within these communities strive to remove these poor people.

Then came the idea that America could be a refuge for England's "surplus" population, which means that by encouraging the surplus population to move to America could benefit the mother country and emigrants alike.

The horrible economic conditions in England was so bad, that despite the risk of traveling across the ocean to found and live in a society far from civilization and in harsh conditions, many Englishmen are willing to brace the danger and seek a new life. This is evident in the fact that with 4 and 5 million population, half of Spain and a quarter of France, England produced a far larger number of me, women, and children willing to colonize the New World. As a result, between 1600 and 1700, more than half a million people left England.

Of course, the religious persecution in England is also a big problem for many of the Englishmen, such as the Puritans, who sail all the way to America for religious freedom

Considering these problems, it is no doubt why English society become an enormous, in terms of population, rural, and agricultural based settler society.

WAS THE FRENCH SOCIETY ANY BETTER?

With barely any emigrants and French settlers, and with only few cities, such as Quebec, there are reasons why French colonized America so little.

The French see America as a barrier too cross rather than a land of opportunities and fear significant emigration would undermine France's role as a European great power. Unfavorable reports about America spread within the French society. These are all examples of disincentives that discourages French emigrants and could impact the extend to which French colonize the New World. However, if the internal situation is worse enough, like England, the French society might change its mind.

Lets take a look at the French society of this time

While England has around 4 million population in 1600, France has as much as 20 million. France Renaissance saw a spectacular cultural development. After the French wars of religion, we saw the issuing of the edict of Nantes by Henry IV, which granted religious toleration to French Huguenots. 96% of the French population were peasants...

(Unfinished)

HOW ABOUT THE SPANISH SOCIETY?

The Spanish hierarchical, plantation, and urban society can be compared to the Neo imperialism of the end of the 19th century, since the society in New Spain is mainly composed of hundreds of thousands of Native Indian workers working luxury resources or mining for valuable metals while the few Spanish colonists and conquistadors rule over them.

The Spanish colonization occurred earlier than the French and English colonization, so we need to look earlier for informations on Spanish society.

(Unfinished)





Note to readers and students:

I have to acknowledge that for some countries, the conditions of the society has much less impact on the colonization in comparison to the benefits offered for colonists. This is a very complex topic, I am a bit short on information and cannot spare more time on this for now, if any of you are interested, I would really appreciate it if you can add some interesting or related information in the comment section, I will try to add them into the post when I have time :)

I want to make this open ended, I hope it can encourage some good discussions!