Bartolommeo de las Casas and the Encomienda System


The Encomienda System was a labor system that was established by the Spanish in the 16th century in the Americas. It was a system that allowed Spanish colonizers to use Native Americans as laborers in exchange for protection and religious instruction. Bartolommeo de las Casas was a Spanish priest who was one of the first to speak out against the Encomienda System. In this essay, we will explore the Encomienda System and the role that Bartolommeo de las Casas played in its abolition.


The Encomienda System was established in the early 1500s as a way for the Spanish to exploit the labor of the Native Americans. The system allowed Spanish colonizers to claim a certain number of Native Americans as their own and use them for labor. In exchange, the Spanish were supposed to provide protection and religious instruction to the Native Americans. However, the system was often abused, and the Native Americans were forced to work long hours in harsh conditions.


Bartolommeo de las Casas was a Spanish priest who witnessed the abuses of the Encomienda System firsthand. He was one of the first to speak out against the system and advocate for the rights of the Native Americans. In his book, A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies, he described the atrocities committed by the Spanish against the Native Americans. He argued that the Encomienda System was a form of slavery and that the Native Americans should be treated as equals.


De las Casas' advocacy for the rights of the Native Americans was not well-received by the Spanish authorities. He was accused of being a traitor and was forced to flee to Spain. However, his writings had a significant impact on public opinion, and they helped to bring about the abolition of the Encomienda System.


In conclusion, the Encomienda System was a labor system that allowed Spanish colonizers to exploit the labor of the Native Americans. Bartolommeo de las Casas was a Spanish priest who spoke out against the system and advocated for the rights of the Native Americans. His writings helped to bring about the abolition of the Encomienda System and paved the way for the recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples.




In the land of Hispaniola, long ago,
Bartolommeo de las Casas did see
A system of oppression, cruel and low,
That left the native people not free.


The encomienda, a Spanish decree,
Gave land and labor to the conquistadors,
Who forced the natives to work endlessly,
And treated them as mere disposable hoards.


But Las Casas, a man of noble words,
Spoke out against this inhumane regime,
And fought for justice, like a knight with swords,
To end the suffering, and make it a dream.


His voice was heard, and slowly but surely,
The encomienda system was abolished,
And the natives were treated more purely,
Their dignity and rights were finally polished.


So let us remember this brave man's name,
And honor his legacy, forevermore,
For he fought for justice, and won the game,
And made the world a better place to adore.