Question

ead the passage and answer the question below.
“By virtue of the said ransom, let ships go there and bring away as many male and female Negroes as possible, newly imported and between the ages of fifteen to eighteen or twenty years. . . .The burden of work of the Indians will be eased and unlimited amounts of gold will be mined. This is the best land in the world for Negroes, women and old men, and it is very rarely that one of these people die.”
-Source: Alonso de Zuazo, Spanish colonial judge, 1518
Which of the following contributed most to the increasing use of African slave labor instead of Native American labor in colonial Spain?
Choose 1 answer:
Choose 1 answer:
(Choice A) Enslaved Africans were immune to most diseases spread by the Spanish, while indigenous people were not.
A
Enslaved Africans were immune to most diseases spread by the Spanish, while indigenous people were not.
(Choice B) Enslaved Africans could cultivate cash crops at a faster rate, satisfying European demands for agricultural products.
B
Enslaved Africans could cultivate cash crops at a faster rate, satisfying European demands for agricultural products.
(Choice C) Enslaved Africans had knowledge of where to find gold and silver mines in the Americas.
C
Enslaved Africans had knowledge of where to find gold and silver mines in the Americas.
(Choice D) Enslaved Africans had already converted to Christianity, satisfying the Spanish crown.
D
Enslaved Africans had already converted to Christianity, satisfying the Spanish crown.

Answer 1

The best answer is:

**(Choice A) Enslaved Africans were immune to most diseases spread by the Spanish, while indigenous people were not.**

This choice addresses the significant impact of disease on Native American populations, which suffered devastating declines due to European diseases, while African populations had greater immunity, making them a more reliable source of labor for colonial Spain.