Compare the treatment of indigenous peoples by the Spanish in Mexico and the French and British in North America
The Spanish used techniques that caused the Indian, who were the natives of Mexico during the period, to fight against each other. This enabled them to conquer the Aztecs, who were the most dominant community in the region. When the Aztecs were defeated by the Spanish in 1521, Hernando Cortes placed policies that needed the Indians to give silver and other precious metals to the administration that took over. They used force when it came to forcing the natives to pay their dues. Encomendaros was also responsible with the converting of the Indians to Christianity while under supervision. This was characterized by brutal force for which they used to forcefully evangelize to the Indians.
The Portuguese also emphasized on the conversion of the natives to Christianity as a way to gain their control. The Spanish used the encomienda system but the Portuguese used the natives to work on the sugar plantations. They forcefully made the natives to comply with their rules, denying them their rights at times. This resulted in the plantations producing low quantities in output. This forced the Portuguese to turn to the use of African slaves in their plantations as the laborers. The denying of the natives their rights, made them to reduce their productivity as a way of demonstration against these inhuman practices.
The French colonized part of North America but not as in large numbers as their counterparts the British did. Therefore, they did not have the military strength to mistreat the natives by denying them their rights. This forced the French administration to see the natives as their own equals hence treating them fairly. This meant that the natives were not denied their rights as it was the case with the British administration. The French administration went ahead and instilled policies that benefited both the natives and the French equally. The administration also emphasized on the fair treatment of the natives. The French also converted the natives to Christianity but used more appealing ways as they did not force them to convert. The French also established made treaties with the Natives in order to benefit full from trade in the region. The French in the Americas could be considered to be the most fairest of all as compared to other Colonialists when it came to the treatment of the natives and their rights.
The English also came and colonized parts of the Americas but had a different strategy. Of all the colonialists, the English colonialists did not bother to convert the natives to Christianity. The approach they used with the Natives, the Indians, usually led to violent wars between the two. These include the Yamassee Wars of the Carolinas, the Tuscarora wars, the Powhatan’s War of the Chesapeake and the Pequot War in the New England. The English settlers were more focused on attaining the large chunks of land hence focused on the fastest ways in which they could displace the natives. They therefore resulted in the use of force to the inhabitants. Though they were seen to be ruthless, the English traders were a bit better as they forged alliances with the natives in order to trade.
Bibliography
McManners, John. The Oxford Illustrated History of Christianity. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1990.
Robson, Martin. Britain, Portugal and South America in the Napoleonic Wars Alliances and Diplomacy in Economic Maritime Conflict. London: I.B. Tauris, 2011.
Sigler, Jay A. Civil Rights in America: 1500 to the Present. Detroit: Gale, 1998.
