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Differences Between Britain And Spanish Colonization

Decent Essays

Britain and Spain shared similar motivations for colonization, but their colonies were vastly different in many aspects due to differences in their own government and policies. Both countries created colonies to increase their wealth and expand their economies, but religious freedom played a factor in British colonization. The fundamental differences between the two countries led to a difference in the way the colonies of each country interacted with its government. The relationship of British and Spanish colonists with Native Americans also reflected the differences in the motives and the government of Britain and Spain. The governing bodies of Britain and Spain shared largely similar motives in their exploration and colonization of the …show more content…

The British Parliament took a hands-off approach in the maintenance of its colonies; it allowed colonists set up whichever governments and policies they felt were most beneficial to them. The Spanish monarchy, in contrast, maintained rigid control over its colonies by appointing their governors and creating their laws without allowing colonists to have a voice in their policies. The approaches of their respective governments caused vast differences in the economies of the British and Spanish colonies. British colonies relied on a variety of activities for survival, including farming and trading; the governments and the locations of each colony determined how it could best support itself. The economic activity of Spanish colonies was, again, much more rigid. Spanish colonies had a near-universal trading economy, and trade was strictly controlled by the Spanish monarchy and enforced by its military. The approaches Britain and Spain had towards colonization were reflected in their treatment of Native Americans. Ultimately, both countries were primarily interested in the expansion of their empires, the enrichment of their economies and their own political power, and their treatment of the natives is indicative of these aims. As Spain’s only purpose for colonization was to conquer land for their empire, the

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