How The Spanish Used To Manage Their Colonies Were Switched To The Methods Of The English?

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Do you ever imagine the effects on history if colonialism had occurred any differently? What if the methods that the Portuguese/Spanish used to manage their colonies were switched to the methods of the English? Do you think that it would make that big of a difference? This compels us to compare and contrast the colonial experiences of the English and the Spanish/Portuguese, particularly with the relations with the indigenous population and government/economics. The English Crown did not prioritize using large degrees of supervision over their colonies; therefore, the English colonies’ experience differs largely from the Spanish/Portugal’s colonial experience. Portugal and Spain prioritized the implementation of multiple government institutions …show more content…

Back in Spain, the King and the newly established Council of Indies passed laws regarding the colonies. Each viceroy governed one of the five Spanish provinces by enforcing these laws. Alcaldes (mayors) and audiencias (the Spanish settler's council of advisors) were used by the viceroy to help run the province. Portugal waited until 1720 to appoint a viceroy to help govern Brazil. The final system that was implemented was the use of the convoy. The convey was used to help streamline profits and keep the goods produced in Spanish colonies in the custody of the Spanish. These government institutions were imperative in maintaining Portugal’s and Spain’s control over their respective colonies. However, in English colonies, everything is the complete opposite. The English economy did not rely on its colonies. In addition to the failed attempts, when a settlement was founded, no gold was found. The former goal of discovering gold had changed into finding property. The English crown did not benefit from the colonies; therefore, they had no reason to implement a strong sense of …show more content…

Seeing the differences between the original goals of the colonies, the economies/government, and their interaction with Native Americans is astounding. Spain/Portugal managed their colonies with an emphasis on control in order to protect the wealth they garnered from their respective colonies. Absurdly enough, this control allows the Spanish and Portuguese to have and maintain a much more harmonious relationship. Unlike the Spanish and Portuguese, the English allowed their colonies much more freedom because the Crown was not profiting off of the colonies. It would not be until tobacco became a commodity that the Crown implemented a government institution known as the House of Burgesses. It is this notion of freedom that leads to an overall tumultuous relationship between the Indigenous populations and the English colonies. The similarities between the English and the Portuguese/Spanish are based on the unintentional deaths of a large number of Native Americans due to diseases and ecological damage. It is unimaginable what degree of change would have occurred if the colonies had been managed differently than they originally

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