Spanish Conquest of America Treaty of Tordesillas Agreement that divided newly discovered land between Spain and Portugal - New lands west of the line would belong to Spain, new lands to east would belong to Portugal - The rest of the world was ignored.

Conquistadores: Spanish soldiers who took part in the invasion of Middle and South America in the 15th-17th centuries Goal: Claim and colonize land on behalf of Spain.

Hernán Cortés (Spain) Conquered the Aztec Empire and claimed Mexico for Spain. Known for “burning his ships” as a way of motivating his men - didn’t actually burn the ships but did destroy them.

Francisco Pizarro (Spain) Conquered the Incan Empire and claimed Peru for Spain Basically tricked the Incan leader.

Juan Ponce de Leon (Spain) First explorer and governor of Puerto Rico First European expedition to Florida (which he named… meaning “flowery”) Named governor but killed by Native Americans on a return trip Famous for searching for fabled Fountain of Youth … but was he really??

Spanish Colonial Society in “New Spain” The Encomienda System land that included native people was granted to individuals by the Spanish crown. Natives would provide either gold or labor and the Spanish provided “protection” and conversion to Christianity. What was it really??? Basically enslavement of the native population. Between the harsh conditions of their enslavement and disease, the population of Native Americans drastically declines.

The Protector of the Indians Bartolomé de Las Casas – explorer and missionary After witnessing the brutal treatment and exploitation of the Indians he gave up his encomienda. He began to defend the native populations. Las Casas argued that there was “no need for the Indians to suffer at the hands of men professing to have the love of Christ in their hearts”. Wrote: A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, which highlighted the abuses he saw.

Unfortunately there was too much money being made for his efforts to be widely supported. As the Indians numbers kept decreasing and demand for goods increased, it created even more pressure for “workers” Las Casas he came up with an alternate solution. He urged the King to look to Africa for new labor. In 1518, King Charles I of Spain allows the direct transport of slaves from Africa to the colonies. Las Casas would later realize, and regret, the impact of that decision. His suggestion set in motion 300 years of African slave trade and did little to improve conditions for the Amerindians.

Slavery in New Spain Africans had built up an immunity to many European diseases and similar climates meant that they had skills in farming similar crops. Unlike the Indians, African slaves could be readily replaced as ships packed with new slaves for sale continually arrived from the west coast of Africa Las Casas did not expect slavery to expand like it did, but African slavery proved to be much more profitable than the encomienda and slave trade exploded in the Americas. 

Spanish Legacy Black Legend As Spain became more powerful, other Eurpoean countries wanted in on the money. Propaganda began to circulate that pushes the idea that the Spanish brought nothing but bad to the New World; they were corrupt and cruel people who subjugated and exploited the New World Indians, stole their gold and silver, infected them with disease, and killed them in numbers without precedent. What was the real motive behind it???

Spain takes a hit…. Pope’s Rebellion 1680– the 1st successful Native American revolt against the Spanish The Spanish keep pushing further and further North eventually into what is present day New Mexico. Led by a medicine man, the Pueblo fought back and won. The Spanish left….but they’ll be back