Final answer:
The destruction of indigenous populations in the Americas involved Spanish actions of violence and attempts at cultural genocide, the introduction of European diseases, and environmental exploitation. However, the Spanish also enacted protective legislations and faced legal challenges from natives, indicating the complexity of the situation. The question of blame involves many factors, with the Spanish conquest being significant but not solely responsible.
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of the Spanish conquest on indigenous populations in the Americas is a multifaceted issue that involves not only direct violence and dominance but also the transmission of diseases and cultural changes. While the Spanish are partially responsible due to their direct actions, such as warfare, slavery, and attempts at cultural genocide, additional factors contributed to the devastation of indigenous societies. These factors include European diseases such as smallpox, to which the native populations had no immunity, leading to catastrophic death tolls, and the exploitation and depletion of natural resources, causing environmental and societal upheaval.
Moreover, some actions of the Spanish, like the legislation aimed at protecting natives and their land rights, show complexity in these interactions. For example, the indigenous population in certain regions faced violence and exploitation but also engaged in legal challenges and often attained protections from Spanish colonial authorities. Thus, the question of blame is highly complex, and it remains clear that a multitude of forces played into the destruction of the Amerindian populations, with the Spanish conquest and colonization being a significant but not the sole cause.