Spain in the Caribean

Hispaniola: Spain’s Foothold in the Caribbean

• Columbus declares taino as spanish subjects
  • returns to spain
  • published account spreads across europe
• 1493, 2nd expedition to build permanent colony
  • tainos had killed the 39 Spaniards left behind
  • pretext for brutal war of conquest
  • enslaved taino used to mine gold and plant sugar
• by 1496, all natives on Hispaniola were enslaved on tributaries
• disease and violence devastate taino population
  • 300,000+ on Hispaniola in 1492
  • 500 by 1548

Spain in the Caribbean, 1492-1519

• by 1500, crown outlawed enslavement of indians
  • “just war” doctrine loophole remained
  • anyone resisting christianity or subjugation to the crown could be legally conquered and enslaved
• $the encomienda system:$ crown issued feudal grant of a conquered people’s land and labor
  • a reward for individual conquistador leaders
  • in return, encomenderos must convert vassals to christianity
• a self-reproducing system of expansion