Settlement of Spanish North America

Settlement of Spanish North America

Encomienda

• A Colonial Legal System employed by the Spanish Crown to regulate Native Labor and Autonomy

• Similar to the relationships between Serfs and Peasants in Feudal Spain

• Receiver of the Grant was obligated to protect the Natives from warring tribes

• In Return, Natives were required to pay tribute in form of Crops, Gold, or Labor

• Natives were to be instructed in the Spanish Language and Catholic Faith

Settlement of Spanish North America

Encomienda

• System differed from Feudal System because Encomiendros did not own the land on which the Natives lived

• Encomiendros were entrusted (encomendar) with protection of the Natives and their lands

• Grantees were usually Conquistadors, Soldiers, Royal Officials of the Crown

• Each reduccion had a Native Chief responsible for keeping track of the Native Laborers in their community

• Indigenous People were organized into small communities known as reducciones

Settlement of Spanish North America

Encomienda

• The encomienda was suppose to be only a two generation trustee, and then return to the crown

• Many were overlooked, leading the system to become corrupt and harsh

• Some used illegal means to gain actual control over the Native lands

• In addition, as inter-marriages occurred, Mixed-race (Mestizo) individuals could not be forced into labor under Spanish Law

• By 1510, Dominican missionaries began protesting the abuses to the Spanish Crown

Settlement of Spanish North America

Encomienda • Eventually gave way to two other systems due to

several reasons:

Movement of Native Communities away from Spanish Settlements

Diminished Labor Pool due to inter-marriage between Native Tribes and other social classes

Legal changes by the Spanish Crown between 1542 and 1720

Reduction of Natives due to disease

Desertion of workers from the fields

Settlement of Spanish North America

Repartimiento

• A New Colonial Labor System imposed upon the Indigenous People of Spanish America

• Based on the distribution (Reparto) of native workers by the local Spanish Magistrate

• Similar to other tribute-labor systems, such as the mita of the Inca Empire

• Natives forced to perform low-paid or unpaid labor for a designated timeframe

• Native Communities were required to provide a portion (2-4%) of their population

Settlement of Spanish North America

Repartimiento • Not a Slavery System: Workers were not owned

• Work was intermittent (often seasonal on farms)

• Some required workers to sign 6 month contracts

• Spanish Crown now required workers to be paid

• Although Native laborers had more freedom, there were still several problems:

Population continued to decline due to disease

Slavery-like conditions still existed in Silver Mines and on some Plantations

Settlement of Spanish North America

Hacienda

• Originated as Spanish Land Grants made to Conquistadors and Royal Officials

• Traditionally considered Large Ranches, some were Plantations, Mines, Factories

• Owners known as hacendado or patron

• Hacienda Society had several levels:

Vacqueros were highly skilled horsemen/cattlemen

Gouchos were paid ranch hands

Settlement of Spanish North America

Hacienda

• Stock raising was the central focus for most haciendas

• Hacienda Society had several levels:

Peones worked the land belonging to the Patron (like feudal serfs)

Campesinos were Peasants worked small land holdings (like sharecroppers)

• However, mines & plantations were also wealthy endeavors

• In addition, haciendas were also granted to the church

Settlement of Spanish North America

Missions • Usually built on land granted

to the Church by the Spanish Crown (Similar to Haciendas)

• Religious Communities used to Christianize Indigenous People

• Normally provided with the logistics and supplies needed to covert Native population

• Consisted of Churches, Barns, Fields, Workrooms, Schools, Dormitories, and Gardens

Settlement of Spanish North America

Missions

Settlement of Spanish North America

Presidios

• Fortified Spanish Military Post

• Built to protect colonists from hostile Native American tribes

• Often incorporated a Catholic Mission within its fortification

• Served as a central Trade and Supply point for the region

• Usually had a Rancho Nacional adjacent to it that furnished pasture to horses and other beasts of burden for the fort

Settlement of Spanish North America

Presidio de San Saba in Texas

Presidio de Santa Barbara in California Tubac Presidio

in Arizona

Peninsulares Creoles

Mestizos Mulattos

Indians Slaves

Based on Blood and birth location

Granted land, political office and voting rights

due to pure-blood and loyalty to the crown

Inherited land, wealthy upper class,

well educated, military trained

Mixed Blood, Upper Middle Class,

Merchants, unable to inherit Mixed Blood, Lower Middle Class,

Laborers, unable to inherit

Forced Laborers with

No Rights Whatsoever

Indigenous People,

With Minimal Rights

Settlement of Spanish North America