THE ENCOMIENDA

SYSTEM AND
AMERINDIAN
RESISTANCE
FOURTH FORM
Week: October 25-29, 2021
Objectives

Describe the encomienda system, and how

1 it was governed and operated

Assess the various methods used by the

2 Indigenous peoples to resist the

enslavement under the encomienda
system and the success of these measures

Examine the attempts made by individuals

3 to protect the Amerindians

INTRODUCTION: THE ENCOMIENDA SYSTEM
Examine the pictures above, describe what the encomienda system was like
 Encomendero

Friar Bartolemew Repartimiento

de Las Casas system

Friar Antonio de
Montesinos
Encomienda
Key words
and
personalities
Governor Nicolas
Conquistadors
de Ovando

Laws of Burgos Mestizos

WHAT WAS THE
ENCOMIENDA
SYSTEM?
Source: https://slideplayer.com/slide/14674407/
The Encomienda System
◦ Under encomienda system the Amerindians in a specified area were
entrusted, to a Spanish colonist / encomendero. Those Amerindians
entrusted worked initially in mind or on cattle ranches and later, on sugar
plantations for a set period of a year (normally six to eight months) Before
being allowed to return to their villages where it was expected that they
would then look after their conucos.
◦ The encomendero was entitled to collect tribute in goods and in gold from
the Tainos entrusted to him. In return, he was responsible for keeping a
priest in each Amerindian village, supporting the conversion of the
Amerindians in his area, paining Taino wages and looking after them
generally. Encomenderos did not always carry all the responsibilities listed
and soon they began to demand labor instead of tributes from the Tainos
Reason for the encomienda system
◦ Columbus had hoped to find wealth in the newly discovered lands, but the abundance gold and silver
which he longed for were not found immediately. If the new world was to be profitable, a considerably
number of labourers would be needed to work in the gold mines and to produce a surplus of goods to
send to Spain. The Spaniards had no interest in agriculture or other manual labour and saw the Tainos,
the conquered people were expected to provide their conquerors with a labor force.
◦ In 1503 an order sent by king Ferdinand to Don Nicolas de Ovando the Spanish governor and supreme
justice of the islands and mainland of the Indies, justified the encomienda system by stating that it would
facilitate the conversion of the Tainos to Christianity.
◦ The king explicitly forbade the enslavement of the Tainos and insisted that they should be treated as free
people and subjects if they accepted the Spanish government as their ruler. To do away with these
regulations the early settlers found a way to create open conflict with the Tainos then argued that
hostilities on their part justified their enslavement.
◦ Ovando was told the weather to treat the Amerindians fairly but because they refused to work for the
Spaniards, the encomienda was made an official policy
Consequences of the encomienda system
◦ The Tainos were enslaved and subjected to long hours of work in minds, on cattle farms and later on sugar
plantations they were unaccustomed to long hours of hard work and so many died as a result
◦ Some of them including the leaders and caciques rebelled against the Spaniards in defense of their liberty and
were killed in battle. Ovando was particularly ruthless in his suppression of indigenous revolts in 1502 and
1503, he presided over a series of massacres and atrocities food stop it's 1503 invited by Anacaona to a
meeting of about 84 caciques in our house in Xaragua, Hispaniola, Ovando ordered his men to burn down the
building with the Tainos inside.
◦ Some Tainos collaborated with the Spaniards, resigned themselves to their fate and accepted the way of life that
was imposed on them.
◦ Some Tainos fled to the hills, mountains and caves and the forests. May of those who fled were set upon by
dogs that the Spaniards brought, and this continued the displacement of their villages.
Consequences of the encomienda system
◦ Others died of new, strange diseases such as measles and chicken pox to which they were accustomed and for
which they lacked immunity.
◦ In response to the harsh treatment, some committed suicide, infanticide and some women committed abortion
◦ The Spaniards sometimes used the Tainos for sports slashing off their heads with their swords
◦ The Spaniards had introduced cattle, pigs, sheep, donkeys, horses and goats which multiplied rapidly and were
allowed to roam freely on indigenous lands. The Tainos crops were often devastated by those animals. Because
they had little time to tend to their plots, their food supply dwindled and many died of starvation.
◦ The social organization and family structure if the Tainos was destroyed. Spanish men came without wives and
so Amerindian women were taken away from their mates and some were raped. This led to fighting in which
many Amerinidans were killed.
◦ The Spaniards imposed their religion upon the Tainos an robbed them of their leaders. They forced the Taninos
to abandon their won religion and accept Christianity.
Consequences of the encomienda system
◦ As combination of hunger, introduced diseases and sheer despair devastated the native population of the
Greater Antilles, Ovondo before his retirement petitioned King Ferdinand for permission to raid neighboring
islands for the purpose of identifying additional sources of labour
 EFFORTS TO PROTECT
THE NATIVES:
The mistreatment of the Tainos aroused the anger of some churchmen notably Dominicans
Antonio Montesinos and Bartholomew de Las Casas who tried to protect the Tanios
against the settlers.
Efforts to protect the
Natives: Antonio de
Montesinos
◦ In December 1511, Montesinos spoke oit
forcefully against the inhumane treatment of the
Tainos. This led, in 1512 to the passing of the
laws of Burgos that were designed to provide
protection for the Tainos.
Efforts to protect the
Natives:
Bartholomew de Las
Casas
◦ Las Casas took up the Tainos cause in 1515 and
was appointed Protector of the Indians in 1516.
Through his efforts, the New laws of Burgos,
designed to stop the enslavement of the Tainos,
were passed in 1542. However, the church in the
New world joined with the settlers in vigorously
opposing these laws and so they never came
into effect
Laws of Burgos
◦ The Laws of Burgos issued on Dec. 27, 1512, by Ferdinand II, the Catholic, regulated relations between
Spaniards and the conquered Indians, particularly to ensure the spiritual and material welfare of the latter, who
were often severely treated.
AMERINDIAN RESISTANCE
 Forms of Resistance used by the Amerindians

Running away
(Maroonage) some fled
to the safety of the
mountains, forests and Destruction of Burning of Food
Refusal of work Pining away
caves in territories such Crops stores
as Dominica, Guyana,
Jamaica, St. Lucia and St.
Vincent

Continuous
Suicide
Wars of practice of
(Individual and Attack on
Resistance Indigenous Relocation of
group), Spanish
especially the religious beliefs villages
infanticide & Settlements
Kalinagos (resisting
abortion
conversions)
Advantages the Amerindians had over the
Europeans
Numerical superiority: the indigenous
populations had larger fighting majority
than the Europeans who were less in
numbers and had to spread over the large
mass of land which was occupied by the
Indigenous peoples
Familiar Territory: Indigenous people
were operating in territory familiar to them
Vulnerability of the Spaniards:
compared to their opponents. They knew
The Spaniards depended on the
where to hide and attack the enemies. They
Indigenous peoples for food supplies. This
could easily move over difficult mountain,
made them very vulnerable. The
forests, swamps and land terrain.
indigenous persons would burn food
Indigenous peoples were also skilled
stores and destroy crops as well as starve
sailors who knew the waterways. They
or poison the Spaniards.
could easily use waterways as escape
routes or as a means to attack.
Vulnerability of Spaniards: The Spaniards
depended on the Indigenous peoples to
act as guides, workers and soldiers. This
could easily lead them into an ambush
 Varying levels of Military Development: Indigenous
societies were at different levels of development from the
Europeans. The Europeans possessed a more modern and
efficient war machinery. Were better equipped with
weapons – guns and cavalry (horseback troops). Had the
advantages of ease of mobility of their fighting forces.

Reasons why Different code of behaviour: Indigenous persons and

the Amerindian Europeans had different codes of behavior in fighting.

Europeans believed in total war and fought to kill their
opponents while the Indigenous people focused on taking
Resistance was captives.

generally not
successful Division/ disunity among indigenous groups: The
indigenous people were unified so there was no mass
uprising against the Spaniards. Spaniards were able to
target specific groups at their convenience and were never
forced to spread out themselves. The Spaniards also took
advantage of existing risks between groups of Indigenous
peoples. This made divide and rule tactics possible. The
indigenous persons because of their small communities
were easy targets for the Europeans
 Spanish Treachery: Some indigenous persons fell
victims to Spanish treachery. Many saw the Spanish as
Gods and therefore did not attack them. The Spanish
also used their understanding of the eclipse to trick the

Reasons why
Tainos. The belief systems of the Indigenous persons
also retarded their response and served as a
disadvantage in the conflict. They held the invading
the Amerindian Europeans in awe identifying them with religious
symbols
Resistance was
generally not
successful Weakening by European Diseases: The Indigenous
population was severely weakened by European
diseases. Hence their ability to respond was reduced.
 The Kalinago were more warlike than the Tainos. From an early
age, the boys were trained in the art of warfare and were tested
Reasons the based on their skills as warriors. These young boys were taken
to the carbet from as early as the age of five where they were

Kalinago were taught how to fight and protect themselves and their village.
The Kalinago are recorded to be skilled at shooting arrows
while swimming, a feat which proved incredibly beneficial for
able to resist their resistance against the European invaders. Even Kalinago
women were able to fight.

European
domination It is also important to highlight the fact that courage was
considered one of the greatest virtues of the Kalinago. This also
accounts for their resistance against the Europeans. They were
longer than the taught how to bear pain and at the age of fourteen or fifteen
underwent an initiation test to become warriors. They were only
Taino. able to pass this test if they were able to endure the pain of
being scratched by the agouti claws and having salt rubbed
into the wounds. This highlights the strength and resilience of
the Kalinago warriors and why they remained strong and
unwavering in their battles against the Europeans.
 The Geography of the Leeward Islands was mountainous and provided
the needed escape for Kalinago people seeking to escape the grasp of
the cruel European colonisers. As the Kalinago were good navigators,
they were able to escape the Europeans by travelling to and around the
different islands. The rough terrain of some islands, (St Vincent and
Dominica are examples) and their skill of maneuvering also aided the

Reasons the Kalinago in their warfare against the French and British. Due to their
skills as navigators, the Kalinago were even able to raid European
settlements.

Kalinago were Whereas Taino Leaders were chosen based on family lineage, the
Kalinago leaders were chosen according to their skill as warriors.

able to resist Victory in war therefore very important to the Kalinago and they put
most of their effort into warfare. This made them formidable rivals
against the Europeans.
European Kalinago were semi-nomadic, moving between the island, evading

domination
detection and capture by Europeans

longer than the

The Taino were not as proficient in matters of war. This meant that they
were easier to subdue, a fact which the Europeans took advantage of,
forcing the Taino to work on their Tobacco plantations. The intense

Taino pressure of the work resulted in the deaths of many of them. The Taino
were a more passive and trusting person. This allowed the Europeans
to easily take advantage of them.
Summary
◦ The encomienda system set in motion a
destructive force of forced labour and
enslavement of people. What evidence is
there to support this?
◦ Place you answer in the Jamboard
 Additional Materials: Encomienda System
Notes

Source: https://youtu.be/VnIu2Ikdwog