Final answer:
The encomienda system was a labor system used by the Spanish to govern and control the native population in the Americas during the colonial period. It involved granting Spanish settlers the right to exploit the labor of indigenous people in exchange for protection and Christianization. This system perpetuated the subjugation and exploitation of the native population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The encomienda system was a labor system used by the Spanish to govern and control the native population in the Americas during the colonial period. Under this system, Spanish colonizers were granted the right to exploit the labor of indigenous people in exchange for their protection and Christianization. The encomenderos, or the Spanish settlers, were responsible for overseeing the natives' work and collecting tribute from them. This system essentially institutionalized the exploitation and subjugation of the native population.
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