Spains Influence Expands

Forcing the people to WORK!

In an effort to steal all the resources, the Spanish
forced Native Americans to work.
This system forced the natives to farm, ranch, and
mine for the Spanish.
Does this sound familiar?
Many of the people who mined typically got mercury
poison and died.
The Spanish abused natives and worked many to
death, especially inside dangerous mines.
Mercury Poison
These mines contained a high level of mercury.
Mercury poison was so common that many parents
would typically maim their children to prevent them
from working in the mines.

Here comes God!
Although most of the people in the Americas were
conquistadors, many others were curious to see the
new world as well.
Spanish priest, still wanting to spread Christianity as
a result of the Crusades, began making trips to the
Americas as well.
Opposition to Spanish Rule
Spanish priests worked to spread Christianity in the
Americas.
These priests also pushed for better treatment of
Native Americans.
Priests spoke out against the cruel treatment of
natives.
One priest in particular, Bartolome de Las Casas will
go down in history for changing slavery in America
forever.
Las Casas Once Said
There is nothing more detestable or more cruel than
the tyranny which the Spaniards use towards the
Indians for the getting of riches. Bartolome de Las
Casas
Las Casas Once Said
The labor of one African is more valuable than that
of four Indians.











(The priest later changed his view and denounced African slavery)
The Spanish stop using Natives
Because of the priests, the Spanish stopped using,
abusing, and killing natives in 1542.
However, the Americas still had a strong need for
labor.
Because of this, Spain looked other places for work.
The natives still showed resistance and fought the
Spanish every chance they got.
Move over Spain
By this time, however, the ruler of Spain had far
greater concerns.
The other nations of Europe seen how wealthy Spain
had become and began to establish their own
colonies in the Americas.
Race for North America
England and France became interested in gaining
their own colonies in the Americas.
Portugal and Spain had a treaty that gave them
rights to explore the world.
However, the other nations ignored the treaty.
This resulted in a struggle for North America.
Ironically, they all fought to steal land that actually
belonged to the natives.