Final answer:
The letter from the perspective of a Native American describes the harsh and life-altering impact of the Spanish arrival, highlighting the spread of diseases, cultural dominion, and occasional legal disputes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dear Friend,
I write to you with a heart laden with sorrow and a spirit confronted with unimaginable changes. Since the Spanish arrived, our lives have been turned upside down. They brought with them devastating diseases like smallpox, which claimed many of our people, more than their swords ever did. They envisaged mountains of gold, converting us to Catholicism and imposing their will upon us.
The Spaniards dominated the New World, reshaping our societies and communities. They viewed themselves atop the social pyramid, seeing us, the native peoples, as subjects to be dominated or brought into their colonial project. The Encomienda System forced us to pay tribute but also provided a pathway for us to legally challenge injustices.
Despite the occasional justice rendered by the Spanish courts in favor of our people, the accounts of chroniclers like Bartolomé de las Casas painted a grim picture of brutality—a stark contrast to Columbus's descriptions. The reality of our encounter with the Spanish has been perilous. Their desire for wealth and dominance has led to bloodshed and a disruption of our way of life, forever altering the course of our history.
May the spirits of our ancestors guide us through these difficult times.
Your friend,
[Native American Name]