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Spanish Conquests in the New World Facts & Worksheets

The Spanish Conquests in the New World marked the beginning of the quest to spread religion, find gold, and bring home glory.

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The Spanish Conquest in the New World started when Christopher Columbus landed on the coast of a Caribbean island that is now known as the Bahamas. This marked the beginning of the quest to spread religion, find gold, and bring home glory.

See the fact file below for more information on Spanish Conquest in the New World, or you can download our 30-page Spanish Conquest in the New World worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Preparation 

  • Spain encouraged the establishment of settlements in the New World to boost its territorial claims, gather gold and silver as well as valuable agricultural goods such as sugar and indigo (a blue dye), and convert the indigenous people of the Americas to Catholicism. 
  • The reasons for making the journey are colloquially referred to as the “3 Gs”, which stands for God, glory, and gold. Spreading Christianity, bringing glory back to one’s homeland, discovering gold, and accumulating wealth were all goals of the conquest.
  • In the late 15th century, Cristóbal Colón, better known as Christopher Columbus in the English-speaking world, was under the impression that he might sail west across the Atlantic Ocean and arrive in Asia.
  • After failing to gain support in Portugal for his project, he relocated to Spain, where he earned the help of the Catholic monarchs, Queen Isabella of Castile and King Ferdinand of Aragon. They gave him a portion of their fortune to fund his journey across the ocean.
  • Columbus sailed from Palos de la Frontera with three small ships: the Santa Maria (the largest, also known as La Gallega), the Santa Clara (nicknamed the Niña), and the Pinta. 
  • During his first voyage, Columbus visited Cuba as well as Hispaniola, home of modern-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Death of Columbus

  • Reports of Columbus’ 1492 voyage made him famous throughout Europe, earning him the title “Admiral of the Ocean Sea”. His fame helped him gain additional royal patronage, allowing him to lead three more expeditions to the Caribbean before his death in 1506. Columbus sailed with 17 ships from Cadiz on his second voyage in 1493, carrying soldiers, farmers, craftsmen, and priests who would go on to establish the first permanent colonies in the Americas. 
  • The Spanish killed, conquered, and enslaved people from hundreds of different indigenous groups in the New World over the next several decades, but they were perhaps most interested in the vast riches of the Aztec and Inca empires. When the Spanish arrived for the first time in a place, they were frequently friendly with the locals, who would give them gifts of gold and women. 
  • Rather than appeasing the Spaniards, this evidence of great wealth fueled their fantasies of conquering the indigenous people, raiding their treasures, seizing control of their land with its gold and silver mines, and becoming rich beyond their wildest dreams. 20% of the wealth had to be sent back to the Spanish King, leaving plenty for the Spanish conquistadors. Conquistadors, or conquerors, traveled around the globe to explore.

Conquest of Mexico

  • Hernán Cortés led the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in modern-day Mexico. A native woman named Malintzin (later baptized Marina) was one of 20 women given to Cortés and his men after they defeated the natives in Tabasco shortly after they arrived in Mexico in 1519. 
  • Malintzin became Cortés’ mistress, learned Spanish, and worked as an interpreter and advisor to him. She was instrumental in Cortés’ victory over the Aztecs, and also gave birth to Martin, the first famous Mexican mestizo. Cortés and his army set off towards Tenochtitlán, the Aztec capital, escorted by Malintzin. During the trip, the Spaniards encountered many indigenous groups eager to assist them in defeating the Aztecs, particularly the Tlaxcala. 
  • The Tlaxcala had previously been captured by the Aztecs and made to serve the Empire, and they were fed up with having to pay tributes and furnish victims for religious sacrifices. Cortés’ army and allies seized Tenochtitlán in 1519 and kidnapped Moctezuma II. Cortés left Tenochtitlan in 1520 to deal with a Cuban embassy intended to overthrow him. When Cortés returned, Tenochtitlan was in full insurrection.
  • During this period, Moctezuma II was assassinated, but it is uncertain whether by the Aztecs or the Spanish, and his brother, Cuitláhuac, replaced him as emperor. The Spanish were compelled to abandon the city due to continual attack. But soon, the Spanish and their allies returned, and after three months of warfare, Cortés regained control.
  • Moctezuma II was afraid of things he had not seen before like horses, war dogs, and cannons that were used to rip apart their enemies which would be frightening when fired, intimidating the Aztecs.
  • In August 1521, the Spaniards gained control of the Aztec empire and renamed it Mexico City. They also brought with them smallpox, which devastated the population of Tenochtitlán. Illness was far more responsible for the city’s demise than violence.

Other Expeditions

  • In 1509, another conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, was enticed to the Spanish Caribbean by the prospect of money and titles. He was part of many successful expeditions in Panama before chasing stories of Inca riches to the south. Despite his first failures against the Inca Empire in the 1520s, Pizarro arrested and killed Inca Emperor Atahualpa in 1532. 
  • Pizarro founded Lima, Peru, in 1533. Pizarro, like Cortés, had to deal with not just local peoples in the areas he was conquering, but also rivals from his own country—a Spanish rival, Diego de Almagro, killed him in 1541.
  • Hernando de Soto led missions to what is now the southeastern US from 1539 until 1542. He traveled through Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas. They introduced European illnesses and brutality, costing the lives of hundreds of indigenous people. De Soto died in 1542. The remaining Spaniards returned to Mexico City without the gold and silver they desired.
  • In 1535, Francisco Vásquez de Coronado arrived in Mexico, then known as New Spain. Coronado led a large expedition into the southwestern US between 1540 and 1542. He discovered the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River. In 1540-41, adventurers attacked the Tiwa in New Mexico. Coronado’s quest ended in disappointment, leaving him impoverished and fatigued.

Impact of the Spanish Conquest

Impact on Spain

  • By 1600, Spain had gained significant financial rewards from New World resources. Through commerce, gold and silver started to connect European nations, and the Spanish money supply expanded, signaling the birth of the capitalist economic system. The increased wealth eventually resulted in widespread inflation and financial suffering. The high wealth eventually resulted in overall inflation and economic despair. 
  • Spain earned creative capital as a result of its expanded worldwide reach. These advances propelled Spain into the Golden Age, often known as the Siglo de Oro.
  • The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote is a classic Golden Age masterpiece. This 1605 and 1618 two-volume romance depicts the narrative of a hidalgo who reads so many tales of chivalry and courage that he cannot differentiate fact from fiction. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza escape reality to recreate chivalry by fighting Spain’s enemies.
  • Spain produced outstanding art during this time. Diego Velázquez painted The Maids of Honor in 1656. He painted himself into this imposingly large royal portrait, holding his brush and easel, and put the spectator where the king and queen would stand.

Impact on the New World

  • The Spanish and Portuguese forced indigenous people to stray from their own beliefs by teaching them Spanish, enforcing Spanish laws, and making Catholicism the ultimate belief system. Over time, they passed laws that established a social hierarchy to maintain power, which became known as the Casta System. 
  • This system ensured European dominance in all aspects of life. They retained power over the region until the 1820s when countries began to fight for independence. Despite gaining independence and no longer being subject to colonial rule, the social hierarchy persisted, with indigenous people and people of African descent at the bottom.
  • The goals of Spanish colonization were to take gold and silver from the Americas, boost the Spanish economy, and make Spain a more powerful country. In addition, Spain sought to convert Native Americans to Christianity.
  • The Spanish considered themselves the guardians of the Indians’ fundamental rights. The Spanish desired the Indians’ peaceful surrender. Even when the tribes were hostile, Spanish rules governed soldiers’ behavior during conflicts. The role of the missionary was to convert the Indians to Christianity. After this, the Indians would be accepted as members of Spanish civilization. However, Indian exploitation occurred regularly.
  • The impact of the Spanish on the United States was the product of three centuries of exploration and settlement, as well as the presence of a culture inspired by Mexico’s viceroyalty of New Spain. Many of the Spanish Crown’s activities left their imprint on US culture, business, religion, art, and geographical names. The Spanish contribution to the American Revolution and the discovery and exploration of the Pacific, an early example of globalization, are other aspects of this legacy. 
  • European invaders established labor arrangements, such as the Encomienda system, to exploit Native American labor to obtain natural resources from the Americas. When diseases like smallpox began to kill Native Americans, the Spanish and Portuguese began capturing and transporting enslaved Africans to the Americas as a labor force.
  • Spanish colonists sought to incorporate Native Americans into Spanish society by marrying them and converting them to Catholicism. While some Native Americans embraced features of Spanish culture, others chose to rebel. One successful Native American endeavor to restore their religious beliefs, culture, and territory was the Pueblo Revolt.
  • The Pueblo, led by Popé, launched a concerted attack on the Spanish in 1680. Popé’s rebellion hoped to reclaim the religious practices, culture, and land which the Spaniards had taken from them. Pueblos, Navajos, and Apaches from the area gathered and plotted to attack Santa Fe when the Spaniards ran out of supplies. They besieged the city for nine days, cutting off the Spanish water supply.
  • Over 400 Spaniards were slain during the insurrection, which was also known as Popé’s Rebellion, and the remaining 2,000 Spanish residents were driven south toward Mexico. Many mission churches were also demolished by rebels in an effort to reduce Catholic physical presence on Pueblo land.
  • According to Pueblo historian Joe S. Sando, the movement was the “first American revolution”. The Pueblos also killed spanish priests, burned churches and replaced them with Kivas. Kivas were used by the Pueblos as a ritual venue and also for political meetings, social gatherings, and spiritual ceremonies.

Spanish Conquests in the New World Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about the Spanish Conquests in the New World across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about the Spanish Conquests in the New World, which marked the beginning of the quest to spread religion, find gold, and bring home glory.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

  1. Spanish Conquests in the New World Facts
  2. Spell Out 
  3. Casta System
  4. 3 Gs
  5. Match It
  6. Text Twist
  7. Crossword
  8. Who’s Who?
  9. Let’s Find Out!
  10. Pueblo Revolt
  11. Food for Thought

Frequently Asked Questions

What did the Spanish do to conquer the New World?

The Spanish conquistadors, who were mostly impoverished barons from the underdeveloped west and south of Spain, conquered huge empires in the New World with the aid of modern military technology, disease (which weakened native resistance), and military strategy.

How long did Spain control the New World?

Spain started conquering and settling South America, the Caribbean, and the American Southwest in 1492 when Columbus arrived. This continued for nearly 350 years.

How many countries did Spain colonize?

Spain used to rule over 35 colonies. Some of these colonies it still administers today.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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