The Spanish were determined, religious people and they had a large.

             They wanted to rule and settle down in order to find gold and convert.

             native people to Catholicism and make their country more rich and powerful.

             "Virginia Company had more interest in searching for gold and.

             in other ways exploiting the area's natural resources than in establishing.

             a functioning society." (Foner, p.46). There were various reasons why the.

             American colonies were established. The most important reasons for.

             colonization were to spread their empire and an economic opportunity in.

             their colonies, (Foner 21, 46, 50, 67).

             Although the Spanish originally came to seek an easier route to Asia.

             to seek gold, upon discovery of the New World, they saw an opportunity to.

             expand their empire. The English had already landed in the New World and now.

             both Spain and England had intentions of colonizing and settling in hopes of.

             finding gold.

             Settlers crossed the Atlantic for different reasons, and their governments.

             took different approaches. The Spanish government was governed by.

             autocratic sovereigns whose rules were absolute; their colonists went to.

             America as servants of the Crown. They set up a complex bureaucracy in.

             their colonies, trying to ensure that the colonies remained loyal to the.

             Spanish king and queen. The English colonists, on the other hand, enjoyed.

             far more freedom and were able to govern themselves as long as they.

             followed English law and were loyal to England. Also the English set up.

             local governments and representative assemblies. Their politics were based.

             on entirely different ruling classes and systems of government.

             Both the Spanish and English colonies had economies based on.

             mercantilism. Mercantilism was controlled by their mother country.

             governments to protect the country economically from foreign competitors.

             Using the mercantile system, the governments of Spain and England.

             intervened in the trade of their colonies constantly in order to gain.