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Encomienda System

Encomienda System. 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. Religion. Spaniards used religion to justify system

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Encomienda System

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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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