APUSH - Topic 1.5 Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

Explain how the growth of the Spanish Empire in North America shaped the development of social and economic structures over time.

What were some of Spain’s early successes in exploration?

• conquistadores → explorers and conquerers

• circumnavigation of the World

• conquest of Aztecs in Mexico

• conquest of Incas in Peru

• conquistadores send lots of gold and silver back to Spain → became most powerful kingdom in Europe

How did the Spanish use Native American labor in the Americas?

• encomienda system

  • Spanish king gave Spaniards who lived on sections of land natives

  • Natives forced to farm or work in mines

  • Spaniards “took care” of Indians

How did the Spanish use African labor in the Americas

• copied successful Portuguese model used in African coast

• replaced Native Americans who died of disease and brutality

• asiento system → colonists payed a tax to Spanish king for each enslaved person imported

• African resistance → ran away, sabotaged, revolted

  • tried to maintain African culture (music, religion, etc.)

What was the Middle Passage?

• voyage across Atlantic Ocean to transport Africans

• more Africans crossed Atlantic than Europeans (colonial era)

• 12-15% of Africans died on the journey across Atlantic Ocean

What was the Spanish Caste System in the Americas

• most Spanish colonists were single men → many had children with Natives or Africans

• rank in society decided by percentage of European to Native/African blood

  • 1. pure-blooded Spaniards

  • 2. mixed

  • 3. pure Native or Black