<P> The process of Christianization was at first violent: when the first Franciscans arrived in Mexico in 1524, they burned the places dedicated to pagan cult, alienating much of the local population . In the 1530s, they began to adapt Christian practices to local customs, including the building of new churches on the sites of ancient places of worship, leading to a mix of Old World Christianity with local religions . The Spanish Roman Catholic Church, needing the natives' labor and cooperation, evangelized in Quechua, Nahuatl, Guaraní and other Native American languages, contributing to the expansion of these indigenous languages and equipping some of them with writing systems . One of the first primitive schools for Native Americans was founded by Fray Pedro de Gante in 1523 . </P> <P> To reward their troops, the Conquistadores often allotted Indian towns to their troops and officers . Black African slaves were introduced to substitute for Native American labor in some locations--including the West Indies, where the indigenous population was nearing extinction on many islands . </P> <P> During this time, the Portuguese gradually switched from an initial plan of establishing trading posts to extensive colonization of what is now Brazil . They imported millions of slaves to run their plantations . The Portuguese and Spanish royal governments expected to rule these settlements and collect at least 20% of all treasure found (the quinto real collected by the Casa de Contratación), in addition to collecting all the taxes they could . By the late 16th century American silver accounted for one - fifth of Spain's total budget . In the 16th century perhaps 240,000 Europeans entered American ports . </P> <P> Inspired by the Spanish riches from colonies founded upon the conquest of the Aztecs, Incas, and other large Native American populations in the 16th century, the first Englishmen to settle permanently in America hoped for some of the same rich discoveries when they established their first permanent settlement in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 . They were sponsored by common stock companies such as the chartered Virginia Company financed by wealthy Englishmen who exaggerated the economic potential of this new land . The main purpose of this colony was the hope of finding gold . </P>

What did north american colonies focused on as european nations competed