Spain and England had different reasons for colonizing the Americas. The Spanish wanted to exploit everything that the Americas offered, while the English intended on establishing permanent settlements and improving England’s economy. However, Spain and England’s response to the Indians of North America both culturally and economically varied. The Spanish and English profited off the native people by destroying culture.

The economic impact that Spain and Great Britain had induced upon the Native Americans primarily helped the advancement of the American colonies and their mother countries. Both nations used Indians to their advantage. The Indians were manipulated for the benefits such as the trade of goods both European and American as well as being extorted for land. Through the Columbian exchange many goods, animals, and diseases were exchanged between the Europeans and the Indians. Such diseases as small pox, measles, and influenza along with others were brought to the Americas and significantly affected the Indian population and killing ninety percent of the native inhabitants. The Spanish also brought livestock such as cattle and horses. And what was brought back to Europe was also significant, new, more nutritious, food was introduced to Europe such as corn and beans. In fact, the world population doubled over the next 300 years as a result. The more modernized and assimilated the Indians became the more the Europeans profited.

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The Spanish also fished and traded furs with the Indians because European demand for furs was balanced for Native American’s want for European goods. The newly introduced European goods to Indian society improved the quality of living and made obtaining food easier by presenting guns and knives to the Indians. Spain enriched itself with American furs and exotic items, which compelled the English to begin colonization in the Americas. Because the Spanish viewed the wealth of a colony by how much it exploits Indians and slaves, they continued to trade with the Indians for a long period of time. However, ...

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