Final answer:
The Native Americans responded to Spanish cruelty with resistance, such as redirecting Columbus to other islands and the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, as well as adapting by integrating certain aspects of Catholicism. They endured immense challenges, including forced labor and cultural genocide, but their resilience allowed them to retain elements of their cultures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Responses of Native Americans to Spanish Cruelty
The response of Native Americans to Spanish cruelty during the period of colonization was multifaceted, involving resistance, adaptation, and in some cases, cooperation under duress. The Indigenous people, subjected to violence, displacement, enslavement, and a high mortality rate from diseases brought by Europeans, faced cataclysmic changes to their world. Despite these challenges, they resisted European encroachment in various ways, reflecting a long-term struggle that still resonates today. For instance, Native leaders initially attempted to redirect Columbus and his men to other islands to avoid the negative impact of European arrival. On occasions, Indigenous groups opted for violent resistance against European violence.
The encomienda system imposed by the Spanish exacted forced labor from Native Americans, with the pretext of providing protection and religious conversion, primarily to Catholicism. Despite this system's exploitative nature, native resistance persisted, with some Indigenous cultures integrating only aspects of Catholicism that resonated with their beliefs. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680, led by a Tewa Pueblo religious leader named Popé, marked a significant act of resistance against Spanish religious, economic, and cultural abuses in New Mexico, which led to the death of hundreds of Spaniards and a temporary retreat from the region.
Overall, Native American resistance took many shapes, from subversive avoidance to outright revolt, and despite immense suffering, Indigenous cultures often persisted and adapted, retaining aspects of their lifestyle and belief systems. This resistance has left an enduring legacy and continues to be a testament to the Indigenous peoples' resilience and desire for sovereignty.