US History – Before 1865
The encomienda system was a labor system instituted by the Spanish crown in the 16th century, which granted Spanish colonizers the right to demand labor and tribute from Indigenous people in the Americas. This system was designed to facilitate Spanish colonization, allowing settlers to establish agricultural and mining enterprises while simultaneously converting Indigenous populations to Christianity. While it was intended to provide protection and care for Indigenous people, it often resulted in severe exploitation and abuse.
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