Cruelties towards the Indians that a Dominican monk, Bartolome de las Casas

Sample Solution

  The Cruelties of the Encomienda System The encomienda system was a form of labor exploitation that was imposed on Native Americans by the Spanish colonists in the Americas. Under the encomienda system, Spanish colonists were granted the right to collect tribute from, and sometimes enslave, Native American laborers. The system was incredibly brutal, and led to the deaths of millions of Native Americans.

Full Answer Section

  One of the most famous critics of the encomienda system was the Dominican monk Bartolomé de las Casas. In his book A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, Las Casas described the horrific atrocities that were committed against Native Americans under the encomienda system. He wrote of how Native Americans were forced to work long hours in mines and fields, and were often beaten or killed if they did not meet their quotas. He also described how Native American women were raped and their children were sold into slavery. Here are some of the specific cruelties that Las Casas described:

• Native Americans were forced to work in mines and fields for 12-16 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• They were often beaten or killed if they did not meet their quotas.
• They were denied food and water, and were forced to live in squalid conditions.
• Their women were raped, and their children were sold into slavery.
• They were forced to convert to Christianity, and those who refused were often killed.

The Repartimiento System In response to the criticisms of Las Casas and other critics, the Spanish crown introduced the repartimiento system in 1542. The repartimiento system was a form of labor service that was supposed to be less exploitative than the encomienda system. Under the repartimiento system, Native Americans were required to work for Spanish colonists for a certain number of days each year, but they were not allowed to be forced to work in mines or fields. They were also supposed to be paid for their labor. However, the repartimiento system was not much better than the encomienda system. In practice, Native Americans were often forced to work long hours for low wages, and they were still subjected to violence and abuse. The repartimiento system was finally abolished in 1720. The Legacy of the Encomienda and Repartimiento Systems The encomienda and repartimiento systems had a devastating impact on the Native American population of the Americas. Millions of Native Americans died as a result of the forced labor, violence, and disease that they were subjected to. The systems also led to the destruction of Native American cultures and societies. The legacy of the encomienda and repartimiento systems continues to be felt today. The poverty, discrimination, and violence that Native Americans face in many parts of the Americas can be traced back to the exploitation and abuse that they suffered under these systems. Conclusion The encomienda and repartimiento systems were two of the most brutal and exploitative systems of labor ever imposed on a people. The atrocities that were committed against Native Americans under these systems are a stain on the history of the Americas. The legacy of these systems continues to be felt today, and it is important to remember the suffering that they caused.