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AP U.S. History / Unit 1: Period 1: 1491–1607

1.5 Labor, Slavery, and Caste in the Spanish Colonial System

3 practice questions

Notes

  • Encomienda system: Spanish colonists got Native labor and tribute.
  • As Native populations fell, Spain turned to enslaved Africans.
  • A casta (caste) system ranked people by ancestry.
  • Bartolomé de las Casas criticized mistreatment of Native peoples; the Valladolid debate followed.

Practice

The encomienda system:
The casta system:
Bartolomé de las Casas is known for:

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