Compare and Contrast British, French, and Spanish Imperial...

Marcus Gravey stated that, â€Å"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.† With that being stated, are the people of the United States, Canada, and Mexico trees without roots? At a young age students learn that Christopher Columbus â€Å"sailed the ocean blue in 1492†, a simple song used to assist children remember that America was discovered in 1492. In addition, Thackeray and Findling describe how Columbus’s discovery presented an unimaginable amount of opportunity for Europeans, and therefore, Spanish, French, and later British explores and settlers began to flock to this new world. Although the only explanation we were presented regarding the reasoning or motives of this†¦show more content†¦With the defeat of the Spanish armada in 1588, Spain began a steady decline to a second rate power. Consequently shifting their original goal of exploring to maintaining or colonizing what lands they still possess. Spain’s goal of spreading Catholicism was undoubtable strengthened when the Pope sanctioned all Spanish efforts. Thus, slavery of Native Americans was justified, and would liberate them in the eyes of God. In effort to prevent British protestant influence, Spain declared that Non-Spanish citizens and Non-Spanish Christians were not permitted to settle in their borders. During this time period a nation’s wealth and power can be measured by the amount of land in which they possess. For example, Spain controlled a vast empire that stretched from modern California to Peru . The Spanish Empire was so vast that it had rivaled that of Ancient Rome. Although unlike the British and French, Spain established an empire of towns, and modern day Mexico City served as the center of Spanish control. Along with establishing the first university in the new world, Spain also established St. Augustine and Santa Fe as response to the British and French expansion efforts. British Imperial Goals: With the inspiration of Christopher Columbus, Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the world for a second time in 1580. Which undoubtedly laid the frame work for English colonization. In 1584