Question

Why did the Spanish tend to settle and intermarry with the Indian population whereas the English killed the Indians, drove them out, or confined them to separate territories?

Answer 1

The Spanish incorporated Native Americans into their colonial project through economic systems like the encomienda and intermarriage, resulting in the mestizo population, while the English often removed natives to claim land for individual farms, leading to conflicts and segregation. This difference reflects the unique colonial administrations and objectives of Spain and England.

Step-by-step explanation:

The contrasting approaches of Spaniards and English towards Native Americans mainly revolved around their differing imperial strategies and objectives in the New World. The Spaniards incorporated natives into their colonial structure through the encomienda system, which demanded tribute and labor in exchange for supposed protection and conversion to Catholicism. While often exploitative, this system did create a social fabric that included the indigenous population to some extent. The production of mestizos was a byproduct of intermarriages, often coerced, between Spanish men and Native women. However, the English approach was characterized by displacing natives to gain access to land for individual farming, which led to frequent conflicts and exclusion.

Colonial administration challenges, such as the distance between Spain and its colonies, along with Spanish endeavors like spreading Catholicism and seeking precious resources, influenced their methods of dealing with native populations. Contrary to Spanish practices, the British settlers' push for personal liberty and entrepreneurship led them to often remove natives from their ancestral lands. Despite some natives challenging their authority in court, Spanish colonial rule, much like the British, resulted in cultural upheaval, spread of diseases, and significant native population decline.

Answer 2

You have to take into account that the Spanish arrived to the New World a long time before the English did, and the Spanish also did not settle in the parts the English settled in. The Spanish went to the Incas, the Aztecs, and the Mayas, all civilizations that were incredibly advanced and immensely powerful. The Conquistadores were few in number, while the Natives were plentiful. The Spanish had no other choice but to kowtow down to the Natives for the time being. As their Old World diseases ravaged the Native population, the Spanish eventually usurped power.

Step-by-step explanation: