Spanish conquistadors came to Mexico to find gold.

Spanish conquistadors came to Mexico to find oil.

Early Mexican civilizations traded crops for gold.

Mexico’s climate made it difficult to build large farms.

The Spanish army became ill with smallpox.

The Aztec ruler Moctezuma welcomed them as guests at first.

The Aztec army attacked Cortés and his soldiers.

Cortés immediately killed the Aztec leader Moctezuma and burned the city.

creoles.

mestizos.

peninsulares.

mulattoes.

Those who converted to Christianity were given freedom.

Many died from disease and mistreatment.

Many migrated north to escape Spanish rule.

They learned new ways to farm their land.

The Aztec empire was defeated.

Christianity spread throughout North America.

Native people were forced to work for Spanish colonists.

All land in Mexico was taken over by the Spanish crown.

the election of Juárez

the expansion of trade

the Mexican Cession

the conquest of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte

colonial rulers.

dictatorships.

monarchies.

liberal governments.