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Encomienda System: Origins and Impact in South and Central America

The Encomienda system, involving forced labor and restricted property rights over Indians, became entrenched in South and Central America. The Spaniards used religion to justify the system, believing in the incompetence of natives. Encomenderos were responsible for providing education, clothing, and God's teachings, ensuring the natives' well-being. However, abuse and mistreatment led to a sharp decline in the native population. The social classes, including Viceroys, Peninsulares, Creoles, Mestizos, and Native Americans, shaped colonial society in varying ways.

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Encomienda System: Origins and Impact in South and Central America

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  1. Encomienda System

  2. Origins of the System • Forced labor common in Western Europe • Means of: • providing a Spaniard a portion of land • Restricted property rights over a certain # of Indians • Became entrenched in South and Central America

  3. Religion • Spaniards used religion to justify system • God’s will to indoctrinate natives • Law of Burgos: any encomendero with more than fifty Natives had to educate one boy in writing and religious doctrine

  4. Belief in Incompetence • Savage, incompetent people • Unable to live a Christian life and conduct money/trade • Believed they needed to be clothed, educated, & taught about God • Otherwise, would ruin New Spain’s economy

  5. Responsibility of Encomenderos • Ferdinand and Isabella: issued an order • Forbade mistreatment of the natives • Granted right to persuade (religion) • Granted natives for 2-3 years at a time • Encomenderos: • Pay natives for their work • Supply with living provisions

  6. Source of Immediate Revenue • Conquistadors ignored commands • Wanted to own land without doing work • Demanded tribute for provisions • Worked long hours for little pay • Led to sharp decline in native population

  7. Social Classes • Viceroys: • head of a colony • Appointed by king • Peninsulares: • born in Spain • Only group that could become viceroys

  8. Social Classes Continued • Creoles: native-born descendants of Spaniards • Mestizos: mixed Spanish and Native American heritage • Native Americans: treated as minors under the law

  9. Social Classes Creoles Peninsulares Mestizos Native Americans

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