2. Imagine you are an American Indian living in the new world. Spanish conquistadors move to your land and announce you will work for them. Would you work for the Spanish, or would you resist their rule? Why or why not?
If I were an American Indian living in the New World, I would resist the rule and not work for the Spanish. I would fight for my land and my people because our own ways of living and practices were fine the way they were, even without the intervention and influence of others.
7. What evidence from the article supports the following statement: Despite abuses, the Spanish recognized American Indians as human beings.
There are two sections within the excerpt that supports the statement, "Despite abuses, the Spanish recognized American Indians as human beings."
The following passage describes how the Spanish Crown recognizes the harsh effects of the encomienda system towards the American Indians.
"The Spanish Crown was aware of the mistreatment and did not approve. Laws were passed to prevent further abuse. The Crown also sent its high court, the Audiencia, to enforce the legislation" (para.1).
Another evidence from the article shows how an important member of the Catholic Church acknowledges the human rights of American Indians:
"Bishop Bartolome de Las Casas, for example, thought that the current laws did not go far enough to protect the Indians. In 1539, Las Casas said he wanted the government to abolish the encomienda system, free the Indians and make their living conditions less harsh" (para.1).
