The question of land ownership was a source of conflict as European settlers moved into North America.

A. Explain each group’s perspective on land ownership:
-Native Americans-
-Spanish settlers-
-English settlers-
B.Explain how these perspectives led to conflict between the above groups.

Spanish:

http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/theconquestofperu/p/Spain-S-American-Colonies-And-The-Encomienda-System.htm

English and Native Americans:
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-colonial/2027

A.

1. Native Americans:
For Native Americans, land was not considered as a commodity to be bought or sold, but rather as a communal resource shared among the entire community. They believed in a deep spiritual connection to the land and considered themselves as caretakers, respecting and living in harmony with nature. Native American tribes had their own systems of territory and boundaries, but they were more flexible and based on occupancy and use rather than strict individual ownership.

2. Spanish settlers:
The perspective of Spanish settlers on land ownership was influenced by the system of colonization and feudalism. Spanish settlers believed in the concept of "terra nullius" – the idea that if the land was not being used by the indigenous people in the way Europeans considered appropriate, it was empty and available for settlement. They saw land as a means of establishing power and wealth, with individual ownership and control being central to their society.

3. English settlers:
English settlers had a perspective similar to the Spanish, in that they believed in individual ownership of land. They sought to establish private property ownership systems in which individuals could legally buy, sell, and transfer land. The English settlers valued the idea of "improvement" - the notion that land should be worked on and developed for productive purposes, such as agriculture or trade.

B.

These distinct perspectives on land ownership led to conflicts between the groups:

1. Conflicts between Native Americans and Spanish settlers:
The Spanish settlers, driven by their desire for wealth and territorial expansion, often seized the land claimed by Native American tribes. Native Americans, for whom land was sacred and communal, resisted these encroachments. This clash of perspectives resulted in violent conflicts, as Native American tribes fought to defend their lands and ways of life.

2. Conflicts between Native Americans and English settlers:
English settlers believed in the individual ownership of land and the concept of private property. They started to acquire land through a combination of purchases from Native American tribes and land grants from the English monarchy. However, as English settlements expanded, the Native Americans found themselves pushed off their ancestral lands, leading to tensions and conflicts.

3. Conflicts between Spanish settlers and English settlers:
The Spanish settlers saw the English colonies as a threat to their expanding empire and wanted to maintain control over the territories they had claimed. The English settlers, on the other hand, sought to expand their own colonies and viewed the Spanish presence as an obstacle. This clash of territorial ambitions resulted in conflicts, such as wars and raids, between the Spanish and the English settlers.

In summary, conflicting perspectives on land ownership, rooted in cultural and economic differences, contributed to the conflicts between Native Americans, Spanish settlers, and English settlers as they jostled for control and ownership of the land during the European colonization of North America.