Saint Augustine was a colony Spain had in
the New World. This colony is located on the
eastern coast of wihat is now known as the
state of Florida, USA. Spanish soldiers who
were living there in 1588 heard reports that
England had established a new colony in the
New World. The English were at war with
Spain and if the location of their settlement
got out, the Spanish would find and kill the
colonists. The Spanish had already killed off a
French attempt to settle down in Florida
back in 1562, killing over 13o men.
Spain knew that this English colony was
located north somewhere near Chesapeake
Bay. The Spanish sent their ships up the coast
to destroy the English colonists. The English
colonists were seen by the Spanish ships as
they sailed their small boats south from
Roanoke Island to live with the Croatoan tribe
on the nearby Croatoan Island. The Spanish
ships attacked the English colonists and took
them hostage. They may have killed them. This
is the reason why English settler's boats were
missing when John White returned in 159o to
Roanoke.
English ships and the Spanish Armada, August 1588.
The fear of Spanish attack was certainly a real one.
In 16o7, the first English colony known as
Jamestown was constructed along the James
River. It was built far up the James River, far out of
site, for this very reason. The English feared that
the roaming Spanish ships would spot the colony
and launch an attack the keep all of the New World
as a Spanish possession.
Why would Spain have done this?
Spain had several motivations for wanting to attack and eliminate English colonies in the New World:
1. Competition for resources: Spain was the dominant colonial power in the Americas at the time and wanted to maintain its monopoly on the wealth and resources of the region. The English colonies threatened Spain's control and access to valuable resources, such as gold and silver.
2. Religious conflict: The rivalry between Catholic Spain and Protestant England played a significant role. Spain viewed the English colonies as a Protestant threat to their Catholic dominance in the New World. The Spanish Inquisition targeted non-Catholic settlers and their religious practices.
3. Geopolitical considerations: Spain wanted to maintain its territorial claims and prevent other European powers, such as England and France, from establishing colonies that could challenge its dominance. Controlling the expansion of rival powers was seen as crucial to its strategic interests.
4. Economic interests: The Spanish crown wanted to protect and expand its lucrative trade routes and monopolies, such as the Spanish Main, and prevent other nations from encroaching on their trading networks.
Overall, Spain saw the English colonies as a threat to its territorial, economic, religious, and political control in the New World and sought to eliminate these rivals through military action.
Spain had several motivations for wanting to destroy the English colonies in the New World. Firstly, Spain viewed the New World as its own territory and saw any attempts by other European powers, such as England, to establish colonies as a threat to their control and dominance. Spain wanted to maintain its monopoly over the vast resources and wealth found in the New World.
Additionally, Spain and England were bitter rivals and were engaged in a series of conflicts, including the Anglo-Spanish War. Spain saw the English colonies as a strategic threat and wanted to eliminate any potential allies or bases that could be used against them in the ongoing conflict.
Furthermore, the Spanish had previously experienced the threat of other European powers attempting to establish colonies in areas that Spain considered its own. For example, the French attempted to settle in Florida in 1562, but were met with violent resistance from the Spanish, resulting in the death of many French colonists. Spain likely feared a similar scenario with the English and wanted to prevent them from gaining a foothold in the New World.
Overall, Spain's primary motivation for attacking the English colonies was to protect its control over the New World, eliminate a potential threat, and maintain its dominance in the region.