1. SPANISH COLONIZATION

2. ECONOMICAL ORGANIZATION

3. You will learn that… After the discovery and the conquest of America, Spanish began the exploration and colonization of our continent. The colonization last more than 300 years.

4. COLONIAL ORGANIZATION The arrival of Europeans in the New World in 1492 changed the Americas forever. Over the course of the next 350 years, Spain ruled a vast empire based on the labor and exploitation of the Indian population. Conquistadors descended on America with hopes of bringing Catholicism to new lands while extracting great riches.

5. What kind of people were the original Spanish settlers? Spanish settlers, were primarily poor nobles from the impoverished west and south of Spain and poor soldiers with noble titles obtained during the war against the Moorish (they had the titles of hidalgos and knights) who came to America with hopes of finding riches. They built the aristocracy of the new cities, and also Governors, mayors and all the kingdom staff were appointed between them.

6. What happened with the Native Americans during the colony? Native Americans who survive to the conquer wars were reduced to a condition of virtual slavery and were forced to work in European plantations and mines. However, some priest like Dominican Juan Bartolomé de las Casas worked to avoid their maltreatment arguing that Americans were being doted with souls, as all other human beings. Then, new laws were created to protect them. Finally, most of the American Indians of our country were subjugated by the Spaniards working as servants.

7. Land Division When a new territory was discovered and conquered by Spaniards, they claimed and occupied their lands in the name of the King, for this reason he was in charge of land distribution between conquers and settlers. This distribution of the lands was made thought different laws that were modified according to the circumstances, mainly in three periods:

8. 1492 - 1591: During this period, the king rewarded the conquers and settlers with long extensions of land. 1591 - 1680: during this period, the crown offered the lands with out owners in a very low price, that way they could attract new settlers. Indian Reservations were created during this time. 1680 – 1810: Laws of Indies or “Código de Indias” was created During this period. The Laws of the Indies consisted of many regulations about land property.

9. Organization of American Indians During the government organization years, the acquisition of lands was as important as getting Indian handwork. Some institutions were created in order to organize the Indian labor force; the most important were: – The encomienda: In the encomienda, the crown granted a person a specified number of natives for whom they were to take responsibility. The receiver of the grant was to protect the natives and to instruct them in the Spanish language and in the Catholic faith. In return, they could exact tribute from the natives in the form of labor, gold or other products, such as in corn, wheat or chickens.

10. – The Mita: was a form of labor in which the natives were forced to do low-paid or unpaid labor for a certain number of weeks or months each year on Spanish-owned farms, mines, workshops, and public projects. – The Resguardos: Were reservations where group of Indians lived. There they could be located to be hired.