What Were Three Chief Features of the Spanish Empire in America

5: Some of the chief features of the Spanish empire in America were the influences of Catholicism and the treatment of the native Indians. The driving force behind many of the Spanish’ actions was the advancement of Catholicism. For example, in the first place, the Spanish justified their conquests by saying that the Indians were heathens that needed to be saved. In addition, a more subtle detail is that the Spanish legalized interacial marriages between the Europeans and the Natives to help spread Christianity to the Natives. Once the new generation, the Mestizos, adopted Christianity, they could advance the conquistadors missions. The treatment of native Indians was also very significant in the Spanish colonies in America. The Spanish forced tens of thousands of Indians to work in gold and silver mines and farms. The Spanish exploited the natives for slave labor because it was cheaper than shipping in people from Africa. Although in 1550 after the Pueblo Revolt, the Spanish realized they had to entirely abolish the encomienda system and be more tolerant with the Indians. 6) Some chief features of the French and Dutch empires in North America included France’s religious incentives for Indians and the Netherland’s more tolerant treatment of not only their own citizens, but the Indians. Just like the Spanish, the French desired to set up a colony for the spread of Catholicism. Although the French were more friendly with Indians than the Spanish were, they still “half” forced Indians into converting to Catholicism. They granted very significant rights to Christian Indians that their non-Christian counterparts did not receive. For example, Christian Indians’ traditional ceremonies and practices were not suppressed by the French. In addition, only Christian Indians were granted full citizenship. In other words, in order to live the best life possible, Indians had to become Christian. The Dutch played a very influential role in the evolution of Democratic rights. They prided themselves on liberty and were the only people in 17th century Europe to have freedom of the press and of private, religious practice. Women in dutch society retained their individual identities, could go to court, borrow money, and own private property. In addition, even dutch colonists’ slaves had rights. Some had half freedom which granted them land in exchange for work and paying the West Indies Company.