Question

In 3–5 sentences, explain why enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in filling the need of the plantations. In your opinion, was the genocide of the Indigenous peoples by European colonizers inevitable? Include one piece of qualitative information from Las Casas’s writing.(4 points)

Answer 1

Enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in filling the need of the plantations due to various reasons. Firstly, the Indigenous populations were decimated by diseases brought by the Europeans, leading to a significant decrease in their numbers. Secondly, many Indigenous peoples were not accustomed to the labor-intensive practices required on the plantations, making them less efficient workers. Additionally, there was resistance and rebellion among the enslaved Indigenous peoples, further hindering their effectiveness as plantation laborers.

In my opinion, the genocide of the Indigenous peoples by European colonizers was not inevitable but rather a result of deliberate actions taken by the colonizers. The use of violence, forced labor, and diseases were intentional means employed by the colonizers to conquer and exploit the Indigenous populations.

One qualitative piece of information from Las Casas's writing is his vivid description of the atrocities committed against the Indigenous peoples. He recounts instances of mass killings, rape, and torture inflicted upon the Indigenous populations by the Europeans. This serves as evidence of the violence and brutality that characterized the colonization process and supports the argument that the genocide was not inevitable but rather a deliberate act by European colonizers.