The Spanish and Native Americans
Spanish Control By 1700, controls much of the Americas; set up colonial government Viceroyalty: New Spain and Peru Ruled by Viceroy in king’s name
Encomienda Grant of Native American labor given by Spanish government; helped make colonies productive
Hacienda Large estate created by Spanish government to create food for the colony
Who has the power? Social Order Spanish born colonists Creoles: people of Spanish decent born in colonies Mestizos: mixed Spanish and Native American Native Americans and enslaved Africans
Religion Strongly Catholic Missions created to convert Native Americans Missions also helped the Native Americans to grow food, read and write, and offered protection Missionaries treated Native Americans like slaves
Sugar Plantations Large demand in Europe; Americas provided good land to grow Plantations thrived; workers died
Native American Mistreatment Bartolome de Las Casas; Catholic priest… can a person serve God and enslave Native Americans at the same time? “Protector of the Indians” 1542 Spanish king issues laws ordering gradual released of enslaved Native Americans
Colombian Exchange Exchange of plants, animals, diseases, etc from Eastern Hemisphere to Western Hemisphere Native Americans have no immunity to European disease; killed more than 20 million Positives: exchange of crops