How did European countries make sure that a newly discovered country was not claimed by another?

Question

Thanks for the answers of how European powers did not inform other countries of discoveries of new countries. This question builds on the answers I got.

Answer 1

At first, it was mostly a matter of finders-keepers. Kingdoms who claimed an island or territory in their name basically got to keep it. This is how Spain got to control pretty much all of the Americas.

As competition increased over territories, third parties were brought in to mediate between competing kingdoms. A prime example of this is the Treaty of Tordesillas signed in 1494 between Spain and Portugal. Drafted by Pope Alexander VI, it divided the as yet unexplored world between the two European powers of Spain and Portugal.

Eventually competition got so fierce that it was reduced to war over colonies and territories. England fought fiercely with Spain for the lucrative territories in the Caribbean (Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, St Kitts, and the Virgin Islands). And England and France were at contest for control of Canada (via the Seven Years' War). Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the Seven Years' War. King Louis XV of France chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France (Canada).

Hope this helped,
Peace.

Answer 2

It became impossible to hide the fact. There's no reason to found a colony or an empire if you don't get something in return: Europeans wanted raw materials, and these had to be ship over the ocean.

And there were plenty of privateers (aka pirates) to sniff out the prey... kinda like a dog barking. The British Royal Navy used this to gain excellent results.

Although the ships were still driven by fabric and wind, the guns got bigger and the Admirals got smarter. Land troops were installed when necessary. (Example: New Amsterdam, now called New York.)

Answer 3

They didn't. That's why there was a lot of fighting. The Seven Years War, World War One, World War Two. All three of these wars involved fighting not just between nations in Europe, but also fighting between the colonies of those countries.

Answer 4

We Brits fought the Spanish in the Caribbean, the French in Canada and India and the Dutch (Boers) in Africa. If there was a particularly valuable piece of real-estate that would be a war or at least a battle.

Answer 5

l. a. Tannella. i think of it sounds warm, and romantic, and beachy, and regularly suitable.. 'Ah, i'm SOO going to l. a. Tanella for my next holiday.. curiously, their president is the perfect!' that's what people might say.