Final answer:
Native Americans were conquered and forced into labor due to European colonization, specifically Spanish conquistadores, who implemented exploitative labor systems. Racial superiority and manifest destiny further justified such exploitation, leading to corporate control over the mining industry and its resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The causes of Native Americans being conquered and forced to work in mines can be traced back to the arrival of European colonizers, most notably the Spanish conquistadores. Seeking wealth and power, these European settlers imposed exploitative systems such as the encomienda and the repartimiento, which mandated labor from indigenous populations for mining and agricultural operations. Coupled with the extreme loss of life due to diseases brought by Europeans and genocidal actions, Native Americans experienced a devastating impact on their populations and way of life.
Moreover, European views on racial superiority and a sense of manifest destiny led to further discrimination and exploitation of not just Native Americans, but also other minority groups such as Chinese immigrants and African slaves. The influx of settlers, increasing industrialization, and diminishing resources eventually led to corporate control, eroding the opportunities for individual prospectors and workers in the mining industry.