The Evolution of Native American Cruelty Research Question: To what extent was the conflict avoidable between the Native Americans and the Spanish Conquistadors.

Thesis

1000

If the Spanish conquistadors who lived in the Indies listened to the reforms that were put in place by the Spanish Government, then the cruelty to the Natives may have been less severe.

Christopher Columbus Discovers the New World

Oct 11, 1492

This was Christopher Columbus's first expedition into the New World and it marked the start to a timeless conflict between Europeans conquerers and Native Americans. In fact, the first day Christopher Columbus landed in the Caribbean, he enslaved six Indians, the first Indians to suffer their miserable fate.

Columbus's Second Voyage

1493

This voyage to the New World led by Christopher Columbus led to the start of many conflicts between Spaniards and Indians. Juan Ponce de Leon was part of the "gentlemen volunteers" that went on this expedition. He played a major role in the start of conflict between the Natives. The destination of the trip was Hispaniola (Present day Dominican Republic/Haiti).

Bartolomé de las Casas Arrives in the New World

1502

Bartolomé de las Casas was one of the first, if not the first priest to be ordained in the new world. He was sent to Hispaniola with Nicolás de Ovando, the soon to be governor of the island. While there, he joined in many conquests and conquered the rest of Hispaniola. Although he joined the biggest threat to the natives, he later pleads to stop the mistreatment of them.

Ponce de Leon Conquers and Explores Puerto Rico

Period: Jul 12, 1508 to 1511

During this time, Ponce de Leon took a small ship with him and fifty men to Puerto Rico after hearing about gold on the island. Here he settled Caparra. Ponce spent most of his resources on gold mining. While on the island Ponce enslaved many of the natives and forced them to work on farms, or go on mining expeditions. Ponce and his crew treated the Natives very harshly. The spaniards also released new diseases that the natives weren't used to which caused a great loss in the local population.

Hatuey Execution

Feb 2, 1512

Hatuey was the leader to an armed rebellion against the Spanish conquerors in Cuba. Hatuey was executed by being burned alive by the Spanish. Bartolomé de las Casas was present on this day in Cuba and he witnessed it. Later in his life he wrote about what he experienced that day. “I saw here cruelty on a scale no living being has ever seen or expects to see.” This quote really shows how cruel the Spaniards were treating the Natives.

Juan Ponce de Leon Arrives in The New World

1513

Juan Ponce de Leon fist landed in Puerto Rico, near present day San Juan. Ponce de Leon's first expedition was fueled by rumors of large amounts of gold in an island known as Bimini. After Ponce de Leon landed in Puerto Rico, hey set sail for Bimini, and in turn landed on the coast of Florida near what is modern day St. Augustine.

Bartolomé de las Casas Tries to Defend the Natives

Sep 1, 1515

After seeing the way the Spaniards treated the Natives, Casas returned to Spain to plead for the better treatment of the natives. Casas saw the many natives being mistreated by other officials and he wanted change. In Spain, he formed the "Plan para la reformación de las Indias". This was a plan to ensure the safety of natives and to make sure they could live freely, without Spanish rule.

New Governors Arrive in the New World

1517

With the help of Bartolomé de las Casas, three new governors were sent to rule the Indies and try to stop the harshness shown towards the Natives. These three rulers had a very tough time trying to make change because all of the Spaniards on these islands were against the ideas of not being able to own Native slaves. After a failed attempt at reform, Casas was hated by Spaniards throughout the region and was forced to take refuge.

The Peasant Colonization Scheme

Nov 25, 1517

This was a plan to abolish encomiendas (the system that was used to use Indians as slaves) and to Move the Indians into their own self-governing towns. This plan was introduced by Bartolomé de las Casas in Spain. The plant was to move many Spanish peasants into the Indies where they could start small farms, that didn't require the help of Indian slaves. In the end, Las Casas wasn't able to recruit enough peasants to travel to the New World.

Juan Ponce de Leon Falls to the Natives

1521

In early 1521, Ponce de Leon set out for his second expedition to Florida. Ponce landed on the southwest coast of Florida, near what is present day Charlotte Harbor. As he started exploring, he was ambushed by indians of the Calusa tribe who were native to that region. He was fatally wounded by an arrow to the thigh. He was transferred to Havana, Cuba where he died. This was a big win for all Natives, killing one of the biggest threats to their people.