How did the Spanish justify their treatment of the natives?

How did the Spanish justify their treatment of the natives?

Spain proffered three arguments to justify their seizure of the American continents and their subjugation of the native inhabitants: papal donation, discovery, and conquest. This papal donation was a significant argument for title so long as the Catholic Church remained the only spiritual authority in Europe.

How did the colonists treat the natives?

Initially, white colonists viewed Native Americans as helpful and friendly. They welcomed the Natives into their settlements, and the colonists willingly engaged in trade with them. The violence of their confrontations with the Native Americans resulted in a shift of English attitudes towards other races.

Why did the Spanish want to convert the Natives?

The first would be to convert natives to Christianity. Aside from spiritual conquest through religious conversion, Spain hoped to pacify areas that held extractable natural resources such as iron, tin, copper, salt, silver, gold, hardwoods, tar and other such resources, which could then be exploited by investors.

How did the colonists treat the Natives?

How did the Spanish treat the natives in their colonies?

On the lowest rung were the Indians who worked on the encomiendas for the Spanish. By making race a factor in a person’s economic status, colonial Spain succeeded in oppressing the natives. Even colonial Spain’s missionaries eventually became hostile to the Native Americans.

Were the Spanish conquistadors cruel to the natives?

The Spanish conquistadors were unquestionably cruel to Native Americans. England’s colonists, however, were equally hostile toward the natives they encountered. The success of England’s colonies depended on the exploitation of Native Americans who were forced off their lands. Religion was often used to justify the poor treatment of the natives.

How were the Tainos treated by the Spanish?

The planta- tions thrived, but many of the Taino suffered and died. The Abuse of Native Americans. Most Spaniards treated the Native Americans as little more than beasts of burden. According to Fray Toribio de Benavente, a Catholic missionary, the Spanish “do nothing but command.

How did Christopher Columbus treat the natives of Hispaniola?

In 1492, Christopher Columbus arrived on the island of Hispaniola. Upon encountering natives in the new land, he notified Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand of Spain, who instructed Columbus to make the natives subjects of Spain. The sailors were ordered to treat the natives humanely, and they were to be considered equal.