Chapter 4Section 2 Notes

Spain’s American EmpireSpain divided its American empire into TWO

parts. The SOUTHERN part included claims in SOUTH AMERICA and was called PERU. The NORTHERN part was known as NEW SPAIN. It included Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean islands, and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Spanish established THREE kinds of settlements in the Americas: PUEBLOS were towns established as centers of trade; MISSIONS were religious communities; and PRESIDIOS were military forts.

Spain’s American Empire

Spanish Pueblo

Spanish Mission

Spanish Presidio

Social Classes in New SpainIn Spain’s American colonies, social position was

determined mostly by BIRTH.PENINSULARES were people born in Spain. They

had the highest positions in the colonial society.Below PENINSULARES were CREOLES. These

people had Spanish parents but had been born in the American colonies.

The MESTIZOS were colonists of mixed Spanish and Native American descent.

NATIVE AMERICANS made up the largest group of people in Spain’s empire. Most were forced to work as slaves.

The Spanish BorderlandsBefore conquering Mexico, the Spanish had explored

and claimed parts of what is now the UNITED STATES.In 1513, JUAN PONCE DE LEON landed in what is now

Florida in search of gold. He established the settlement of ST. AUGUSTINE.

Beginning in 1540, FRANCISCO CORONADO spent three years exploring the present-day southwestern United States for the fabled seven cities of gold, called CIBOLA.

At around the same time, HERNANDO DE SOTO explored what is now South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. He too was looking for GOLD.

Juan Ponce de Leon

St. Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine, Florida

Francisco Coronado

Hernando de Soto

Borderland MissionsSPANISH priests established missions throughout the

lands they claimed in what is now the United States.Missions provided HELP and SERVICES to Native

Americans. In return, the Native Americans were expected to adopt the CATHOLIC religion.

Some Native Americans welcomed the missions. Others, however, did not like the idea of giving up their own religious BELIEFS and TRADITIONS. These Native Americans fought against the missionaries.

Meanwhile, Spanish soldiers set up military posts in what is now CALIFORNIA to keep the Russians in the Northwest from settling there.