Amerindian Genocide: Difference between revisions
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After approximately three million natives were killed, the Spanish colonial authorities reformed their approach, adopting the [[Encomienda|''encomienda'']] system; a system of slavery wherein certain grant holders were awarded a monopoly on the labor of certain groups. Natives were allocated to certain ''encomiendero'' and put to work mining for gold. This ended up being deadlier than traditional slavery because there was no incentive to keep the native slaves alive as they could be replaced for free, resulting in the Spanish abusing and killing the native slaves regularly. The ''encomienda'' system has been described by modern historians as explicitly genocidal, because it resulted in the intentional deaths of millions and the eradication of potentially thousands of native cultures. | After approximately three million natives were killed, the Spanish colonial authorities reformed their approach, adopting the [[Encomienda|''encomienda'']] system; a system of slavery wherein certain grant holders were awarded a monopoly on the labor of certain groups. Natives were allocated to certain ''encomiendero'' and put to work mining for gold. This ended up being deadlier than traditional slavery because there was no incentive to keep the native slaves alive as they could be replaced for free, resulting in the Spanish abusing and killing the native slaves regularly. The ''encomienda'' system has been described by modern historians as explicitly genocidal, because it resulted in the intentional deaths of millions and the eradication of potentially thousands of native cultures. | ||
==== | ====Conflict with the Kalinago==== | ||
The Caribbean island of Saint Kitts was colonized by British, French and Irish settlers in 1623, upsetting the native Kalinago tribe. The Kalinago chief [[Tegremond]] began plotting to kill the settlers in 1626 out of fear they would massacre his people. However, the settlers were informed and decided to take pre-emptive action against the natives. | The Caribbean island of Saint Kitts was colonized by British, French and Irish settlers in 1623, upsetting the native Kalinago tribe. The Kalinago chief [[Tegremond]] began plotting to kill the settlers in 1626 out of fear they would [[Kalinago Genocide|massacre]] his people. However, the settlers were informed and decided to take pre-emptive action against the natives. Tegremond and his tribe were invited to a feast, where the settlers got them drunk before allowing them to return to their village. The settlers then attacked the village and killed 120 Kalinago, including Tegremond, while they were in a drunken stupor. The following day, 4,000 Kalinago were rounded up and forced up to what is now known as Bloody Point. The Kalinago fought back, leading to the killings of half of the captives. The other 2,000 managed to escape into the mountains, where they were hunted down and either enslaved or forcibly removed to Dominica. | ||
During the colonization of the Leeward Islands, the Kalinago engaged in conflicts against the British and French settlers and destroyed their plantations in an attempt to expel them from the islands. In 1660, the British and French signed the Saint Charles treaty to expel the Kalinago to Dominica and Saint Vincent, which served as reserves for the native Caribs. On Saint Vincent, a series of wars took place between the Kalinago and the British until the resistance was finally crushed in 1797 and the natives were deported to the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras. | |||
===Genocide in Mexico and Central America=== | ===Genocide in Mexico and Central America=== | ||
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Starting in 1524, Spanish conquistadors such as [[Pedro de Alvarado]] and [[Francisco de Montejo]] began a series of invasions against the Mayan civilization. Unlike the conquest of the Aztec Empire under Hernán Cortés, which took over two years to successfully conquer, the conquest of the Mayan civilization took over seven decades, due to the conquistadors' unfamiliarity with the environment and the fact that the Mayan civilization consisted of separate kingdoms instead of one unified empire. As the conquistadors and their indigenous allies invaded and plundered the cities over time, many Mayan civilians were subjected to slavery under the ''encomienda'' system and were forced to convert to Christianity. | Starting in 1524, Spanish conquistadors such as [[Pedro de Alvarado]] and [[Francisco de Montejo]] began a series of invasions against the Mayan civilization. Unlike the conquest of the Aztec Empire under Hernán Cortés, which took over two years to successfully conquer, the conquest of the Mayan civilization took over seven decades, due to the conquistadors' unfamiliarity with the environment and the fact that the Mayan civilization consisted of separate kingdoms instead of one unified empire. As the conquistadors and their indigenous allies invaded and plundered the cities over time, many Mayan civilians were subjected to slavery under the ''encomienda'' system and were forced to convert to Christianity. | ||
==== | ==== Spanish conquest of Central America ==== | ||
After Christopher Columbus claimed Honduras for Spain during his final voyage in 1502, the conquistadors began colonizing the area in 1524. The indigenous peoples living in the area led a war of resistance against the Spaniards that lasted fifteen years until the war ended with the defeat of the Lenca leader, Lempira. The | After Christopher Columbus claimed Honduras for Spain during his final voyage in 1502, the conquistadors began colonizing the area that would become El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua in 1524. The indigenous peoples living in the area led a war of resistance against the Spaniards that lasted fifteen years until the war ended with the defeat of the Lenca leader, Lempira. The Mesoamericans and Chibchans were then subjected to slavery via the ''encomienda'' system and many were sold to slave owners in Panama and the Caribbean. | ||
====Campaign against Apaches==== | ====Campaign against Apaches==== | ||
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The Peruvian government ceded to the [[Peruvian Amazon Company]] the Amazon territories north of Loreto, after the company's founder [[Julio César Arana]] purchased the land. Shortly after, private hosts of Arana – brought from Barbados – which consisted of forcing Amerindians to work for him in exchange for "favors and protection", with the offer being unable to deny as disagreements led to their [[kidnapping]] by mercenaries paid by the company. The Amerindians were subjected to isolation processes in remote areas to collect rubber in inhuman conditions and if they did not meet the required amount, they were punished with death or were disappeared in "distant camps" where ninety percent of the affected Amazonian populations were annihilated. | The Peruvian government ceded to the [[Peruvian Amazon Company]] the Amazon territories north of Loreto, after the company's founder [[Julio César Arana]] purchased the land. Shortly after, private hosts of Arana – brought from Barbados – which consisted of forcing Amerindians to work for him in exchange for "favors and protection", with the offer being unable to deny as disagreements led to their [[kidnapping]] by mercenaries paid by the company. The Amerindians were subjected to isolation processes in remote areas to collect rubber in inhuman conditions and if they did not meet the required amount, they were punished with death or were disappeared in "distant camps" where ninety percent of the affected Amazonian populations were annihilated. | ||
==== Genocide | ==== [[Paraguayan Genocide]] ==== | ||
The genocide of indigenous peoples in Paraguay took place between 1956 and 1989 under the presidency of General [[Alfredo Stroessner]]. The Aché in particular were subjected to killings and ethnic cleansing by loggers, miners and farmers. It is estimated that around 900 Aché people were killed, amounting to to 85% of the population. The notion of whether or not the systematic killings of the Paraguayan natives amounted to genocide is debated by historians. | The genocide of indigenous peoples in Paraguay took place between 1956 and 1989 under the presidency of General [[Alfredo Stroessner]]. The Aché in particular were subjected to killings and ethnic cleansing by loggers, miners and farmers. It is estimated that around 900 Aché people were killed, amounting to to 85% of the population. The notion of whether or not the systematic killings of the Paraguayan natives amounted to genocide is debated by historians. | ||