“In Brazil, they [the Portuguese] also outnumbered Indigenous people. It is estimated that today indigenous populations are seven percent of what they originally were in 1500.”

Question

Which statement correctly analyzes whether the quote is a strength or weakness of Portuguese control?

Lower Indigenous populations weakened Portuguese colonial control because the death of so many indigenous people led colonists to revolt.
Lower Indigenous populations strengthened Portuguese colonial control because colonial authorities felt the need to please their Indigenous subjects.
Lower Indigenous populations strengthened Portuguese colonial control because it made leading revolts much more difficult.
Lower Indigenous populations weakened Portuguese colonial control because they had fewer workers to boost the economy.

Answer 1

The statement "Lower Indigenous populations strengthened Portuguese colonial control because it made leading revolts much more difficult" correctly analyzes the impact of lower Indigenous populations as a strength of Portuguese control. With fewer Indigenous people left to resist or organize against colonial authority, the Portuguese faced less opposition and were able to maintain control more easily.