Explain why enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in filling the need of the plantations.(1 point)

Question

Responses

European colonizers were kind to Indigenous peoples. As a result, the colonizers did not want to enslave Indigenous peoples.
European colonizers were kind to Indigenous peoples. As a result, the colonizers did not want to enslave Indigenous peoples.

European colonizers’ cruelty, as well as the spread of disease, meant that many Indigenous people died. As a result, there were not enough people left for colonizers to enslave.
European colonizers’ cruelty, as well as the spread of disease, meant that many Indigenous people died. As a result, there were not enough people left for colonizers to enslave.

European colonizers’ cruelty meant that many people—Indigenous people as well as colonizers—died. As a result, there were not enough people left to enslave.
European colonizers’ cruelty meant that many people—Indigenous people as well as colonizers—died. As a result, there were not enough people left to enslave.

Slavery did not exist in the Americas at the time of European colonization.

Answer 1

The most accurate explanation for why enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in fulfilling the needs of the plantations is:

European colonizers’ cruelty, as well as the spread of disease, meant that many Indigenous people died. As a result, there were not enough people left for colonizers to enslave.

This response highlights two critical factors: the brutal treatment of Indigenous peoples by colonizers and the devastating impact of diseases brought over by Europeans, which decimated Indigenous populations. The combination of high mortality rates and the harsh conditions imposed made it difficult for colonizers to maintain a viable Indigenous labor force for their plantations.