Nationalism played a big role in the early colonization of the New World. It created a strong competition between European countries.

1. Reasons for Colonization:

   • European countries wanted to grow their empires and get richer.
   • For example, Spain found a lot of gold in the Americas.
   • By the late 1500s, they had brought over $200 million worth of gold and silver back to Europe!

2. Rivalry Between Countries:

   • Countries like Spain, England, France, and the Netherlands rushed to create colonies.
   • By 1600, Spain had built a huge empire that stretched from California to Florida and into Central America.

3. Cultural Pride:

   • Nationalism made countries feel they were better than others.
   • They wanted to spread their languages and religions.
   • For example, by the late 1700s, Spanish missions had set up more than 20 locations in California.

4. Alliances with Indigenous Groups:

   • European countries often teamed up with Native American tribes to help claim land.
   • A good example is how the French worked with Native tribes to control fur trade routes.

In these ways, nationalism pushed early colonization efforts. It changed the political and cultural scene in the New World.