Final answer:
The enslavement of indigenous people on American plantations failed because they could escape easily, were decimated by European diseases, and many chose death over slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Enslaving the indigenous people of the Americas to work on plantations was largely unsuccessful for several reasons. The indigenous people knew the land well and could escape, hiding easily within familiar territories. Furthermore, they suffered massive population declines due to diseases introduced by Europeans, reducing the potential labor force significantly. Lastly, many indigenous people resisted enslavement vehemently, choosing death over bondage, illustrating a profound lack of compliance and the impracticality of their enslavement for sustained plantation labor.