1, Conversion to Christianity: Spanish colonizers sought to convert native Americans to Christianity actively. Native Americans often had to adopt Catholic practices and participate in religious ceremonies. Many Native American were forced to convert to Christianity and abandon their traditional beliefs and rituals.
2. The Encomienda System: Spain introduced the Encomienda system in New Spain. This system granted colonizers the right to command over a specific number of Native Americans for labor and tribute in return for providing protection and religious instruction. Native Americans were forced into work on ranches, mines, and plantations under this system, often leading to exploitation and mistreatment.
3. Forced Labor: Naitve Americans were subjected to forced labor in various industries, including mining, agriculture, and construction. They were often coerced to work long hours under harsh conditions, resulting in high mortality rates.
4. Population Decline: Disease epidemics brought by European colonizers devastated native populations. Smallpox, measles, and other infectious diseases spread rapidly, decimating Native Americans communities and leading to significant population decline.
5. Cultural assimilation: Spain authorities actively pursued cultural assimilation of Native Americans by suppressing indigenous languages, traditions, and customs. Native Americans were compelled to adopt Spanish customs, language, and cultural norms.
Native American in Plymouth:
1. Cooperation and Trade: In the early years of Plymouth colony, Native Americans from the Wampanoag tribe assisted the pilgrims with food, shelter, and survival skills. Pilgrims learned from Native Americans how to grow crops, hunt local wildlife, and navigate the unfamiliar environment. The Wampanoag also traded pelts, furs, and other goods with the pilgrims.
2. Military alliances: Native Americans often made military alliances with European settlers to defend against shared enemies or in power struggles among indigenous groups. The pilgrims in Plymouth occasionally collaborated with nearby Wampanoag bands for mutual protection.
3. Land conflicts and warfare: As European settlement expanded, conflicts over land and resources arose. Native Americans in Plymouth experienced the encroachment of their territories by the pilgrims, leading to tense relationships and occasional conflicts. King Phillip's was a war between the Wampanoags and the English settlers that devastated both communities and significantly altered the power dynamics in the region.
4. Cultural exchange: Native Americans and European settlers engaged in cultural exchange, with each group learning about the other's customs and practices. Native Americans taught settlers how to fish, farm, and navigate the local environment, while the settlers introduced various European goods and technologies.