Cortes and his men were able to defeat the Aztec Empire through military, ideological, and political advantages. They had weapons like cannons and horses that frightened the Aztecs, who believed the Spaniards were gods. Cortes also made alliances with Aztec enemies and was able to communicate through a translator. Additionally, smallpox brought by the Spaniards decimated the native population.

1. West Coast Colonization

2. Hernan Cortez

8. How did the Spanish govern their new American Colonies?

9. Spanish Colonial ModelColonies Spanish King: Created the power structure to help him rule over the colonies Council of the Indies : Governed the American colonies from Spain Viceroy a.k.a Vice King: Ruled in place of the Spanish King in the colonies. Audiencia a.k.a. Judges : Checked and balanced the Viceroy’s power The People in the Colonies: Order of Power: Peninsulares, Creoles, Mestizos, Mulattoes, Africans, Native Americans

12. Peninsulares Creoles Mestizos Mulattoes Africans Native Americans

13. Today’s lesson makes the important point(s) that… In the slide presentation today, … parenthetical statement …, makes the point(s) that… When it comes to the topic of ... state the topic … , historians agree that… The slide presentation, … parenthetical statement …, claims that … Make Meaning