Final answer:
Bartholomé de Las Casas was a Spanish priest who became a staunch advocate for Native Americans, fighting against their brutal exploitation by Spanish colonizers. His effort to protect them inadvertently led to his support of the importation of African slaves, contributing to the establishment of the Transatlantic slave trade. His action was a complicated part of the broader history of colonialism and slavery.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catholic priest Bartholomé de Las Casas was an advocate for the humane treatment of Native Americans under Spanish rule in the Americas. Initially, he received an encomienda but after witnessing the cruel treatment towards the indigenous people, he gave up his encomienda and became a vocal critic of the system. In the process of advocating for the rights of Native Americans, Las Casas suggested that importing African slaves would be a lesser evil compared to the brutal exploitation of the Native Americans. Although his intent was to alleviate the suffering of Native Americans, his suggestion inadvertently supported the growth of the Transatlantic slave trade.
Las Casas argued against the brutality of the Spanish colonizers and sought new legislation to protect the native peoples, which led to the establishment of the New Laws of 1542. These laws aimed to abolish the encomienda system that facilitated the exploitation of Native Americans. However, Las Casas's suggestion to import African slaves as an alternative labor force contributed to the establishment and expansion of the Transatlantic slave trade, which is a tragic and unintended consequence of his advocacy.