Final answer:
Bartolomé de las Casas worked to end the Encomienda system by releasing his own slaves, renouncing his encomienda, and vocally criticizing the system's abuses. He influenced the creation of the New Laws of 1542, meant to restrict and eventually abolish the system, though they were initially met with resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Efforts by Bartolomé de las Casas to End the Encomienda System
Bartolomé de las Casas, initially a recipient of an encomienda, underwent a significant transformation after witnessing the brutal treatment of Native Americans under the system. In an effort to end the Encomienda system, he released his enslaved natives, renounced his own encomienda, and became a fierce critic of the system's cruelty. He effectively used his writings, such as 'A Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies,' to disclose the barbarities inflicted upon the natives and to appeal to the conscience of the Spanish crown and the broader European public.
His advocacy was instrumental in persuading King Charles V to pass the New Laws of 1542, which were designed to restrict and gradually abolish the encomienda system. Although these laws faced stiff opposition from Spanish settlers in the Americas and had limited immediate effect, Las Casas's efforts were fundamental in changing attitudes toward Native Americans and initiating reforms.