1. Colonies in the Americas

2. Spanish Colonies Spanish land was divided into four provinces Spanish land was divided into four provinces Spain wanted to maintain strict control over provinces Spain wanted to maintain strict control over provinces –Council of Indies Set up to pass laws for the colonies Set up to pass laws for the colonies

3. Spanish Colonies Viceroys Viceroys –Appointed representatives who ruled in the name of the king Advisory councils helped viceroys Advisory councils helped viceroys

4. Spanish Colonies Spread Christianity Spread Christianity –Just as important as gaining land Worked with Catholic Church Worked with Catholic Church –Missionaries built –Church leaders gained power

5. Spanish Colonies Controlling trade Controlling trade –Silver and gold –Sugar Grown on plantations Grown on plantations Required a lot of workers Required a lot of workers

6. Spanish Colonies Encomienda System Encomienda System –The right to demand labor or tribute from Native Americans –Forced labor –Brutal conditions –Native American population drastically declined

7. Spanish Colonies Bartolome de Las Casas Bartolome de Las Casas –Against encomienda system –Pleaded with the king to end abuse New laws of the Indies New laws of the Indies –Forbade enslavement and abuse of Native Americans

8. Spanish Colonies Spain was too far away to enforce laws Spain was too far away to enforce laws Many Native Americans were forced to become peons Many Native Americans were forced to become peons –Forced labor in order to pay off a debt –Debt became so big they would never be able to pay it off

9. Spanish Colonies Because Native Americans were dieing, there was a labor shortage Because Native Americans were dieing, there was a labor shortage Las Casas urged King to go to Africa for new labor Las Casas urged King to go to Africa for new labor –Immune to disease –Had skills in farming, mining, and metalworking Las Casas later regretted this suggestion Las Casas later regretted this suggestion

10. Spanish Colonies Spain went to Africa to get workers Spain went to Africa to get workers –Imported millions of Africans –Worked various jobs

11. Cultural Blending Mix of diverse races made new social structure Mix of diverse races made new social structure –All cultures blended together –Americas- Buildings, food, canoes –Africans- Farming methods, cooking styles, crops –Europeans- Religion, animals

12. Cultural Blending New social class system New social class system Peninsulares- top of class Peninsulares- top of class –Born in Spain Creoles- middle class Creoles- middle class –Spanish born in America

13. Cultural Blending Mestizos and Mulattoes Mestizos and Mulattoes –Lower Class –Mestizoes- Native American and European descent –Mulattoes- African and European descent Lowest class consisted of Native Americans and Africans Lowest class consisted of Native Americans and Africans