Weighted: 4-6% °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ 1491-1607
With the rapidly decreasing Native population and further resistance, European settlers looked towards the addition of enslaved African workers for agricultural labor. As a result, a global trade system was formed.
The worldwide trade between enslaved workers, raw materials, and manufactured goods is known as the Triangular Trade Route. Africa supplied inexpensive enslaved workers across the Atlantic Ocean to places in the Americas like Brazil and/or the Caribbeans. Then, America supplied raw materials to Europe and in turn, Europe sent manufactured goods back to the Americas and Africa. This vastly growing trade network around the continents greatly contributed to economic prosperity around the world and fostered more capitalistic ideals mentioned previously. However, alongside economic success began the high growing percentage of African slave labor. More specifically, the transfer of enslaved workers from Africa to the Americas is known as the Transatlantic Slave Trade. About 10-12 million Africans were forced into and transferred across the Atlantic Ocean to become enslaved laborers. The voyages itself are recollected today as the Middle Passage and these trips were known for their brutal, unsanitary, and inhumane conditions. An overwhelming number of African men, women, and children were tightly confined and chained onboard for the entire duration of the trip. Many became sick and unfortunately passed away before even landing.
As a result of the mix of European colonizers, Africans, and remaining Native Americans, a hierarchical social class based on race and nationality was formed in America called the Caste System. The following is how each group ranked:
The Caste System:
Peninsulares: Individuals born in Spain; they held the highest social status and privileges.
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Creoles: Individuals born in America but are of pure Spanish ancestry.
↓
Castas: Mixed-race individuals
Mulattos: Spanish and African blood Mestizos: Spanish and Native blood
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Native Americans and Africans
It's important to note that this social hierarchy was specific to the Spanish and that other countries did not adopt this. In fact, Native American had different relationships with various countries. For example, the French generally had a more peaceful and mutual relationship with Native Americans. As the French was heavily involved in the Fur trade at the time, they traded Fur in exchange for guns and western weapons to Natives. In addition, they provided militia protection without the intent for religious conversion and unlike the Caste system, even supported mixed racial marriages between the French and Natives. For the English, they were less involved, especially after the first unsuccessful attempt at a permanent American colony (Roanoke).
While it's generally depicted that the Spanish were completely intolerant of Native Americans, there were periods of genuine curiosity and interest. Commonly, Europeans admired their housing and complex agricultural systems and harking back to religious ideals, often thought Natives just needed to convert to Christianity. However, the majority of Tribes already had deep-rooted spiritual beliefs and either quietly suppressed Catholicism or, as seen in the Pueblo Revolt, outrightly denied conversion. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was a violent revolt against Spanish rule over the Pueblo people in modern day Mexico City. The Pueblos did not like how Spain imposed Catholicism and was able to successfully overthrow Spanish colonization for 12 years.
Also, an important figure during this unit was Bartolome De Le Cases. He was a Spanish priest, but unlike the majority, heavily disapproved the treatment and dehumanization of Native Americans. Through his writings, he shamed conquistadors and encomenderos that abused and used Native Americans for labor and such. With the invention and popularization of the printing press, his writings were able to be reached globally. Surrounding countries read about the cruel treatment imposed by Spain and there developed the Black Legend. The Black Legend was a series of criticism directed towards Spain that was backed up by De Le Cases's and other's books. This was mainly adopted by Protestant countries like Great Britain, which used these writings to inflict criticize to Catholicism as a whole. As a result, reforms were gradually placed on the Encomienda system until it began to fade away. While Native American slave labor began to grow unpopular, African enslavement was continued and pushed as an alternative. This idea would be heavily expanded and seen in Unit 2.
Additional Terms:
⋆ Juan Ginés de Sepúlveda: typically seen opposing Bartolome De Le Cases; he defended Native American colonization and backed up the Encomienda system
⋆ Sir Walter Raleigh: Led the first attempt at a permanent English colony (Roanoke). Obviously failed.
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