Bartolomé de las Casas, also known as the “Apostle of the Indians,” was an early Spanish historian, Spanish Catholic priest, and Dominican missionary, who was the first to expose the oppression of native peoples by Europeans in the Americas. Written in 1528, his document titled “History of the Indies” which took place in Hispaniola outlined the appalling treatment of Indians and the greed and cruelty of the Spanish. Since then, the original document has been translated from Spanish to English. Bartolomé de las Casas was a non-reliable source for numerous, distinct reasons. In this document, he accentuated the innocence and decency of the Indians and the barbarity of the Spaniards in order to emphasize the enormity of deaths endured by the natives.
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Las Casas said “even beasts enjoy more freedom when they are allowed to graze in the fields. But our Spaniards gave no such opportunity to Indians and truly considered them perpetual slaves” (Foner). In doing this, he described that beasts have more freedom grazing in a field than the Indians did under Spanish enslavement. In addition, he connected his previous statements by showing that the Spaniards treated the Indians like human waste. After that, he said “when they [Indians] were allowed to go home, they often found it deserted and had no other recourse than to go out into the woods to find food and to die. When they fell ill, which was very frequently because they are a dedicate people unaccustomed to such work, the Spaniards did not believe them and pitilessly called them lazy dogs, and kicked and beat them; and when illness was apparent they sent them home as useless, giving them some cassava for the twenty- to eighty-league journey. . . . I sometimes came upon dead bodies on my way, and upon others who were gasping and moaning in their death agony, repeating “Hungry, hungry.” And this was the freedom, the good treatment and the Christianity that Indians received” (Foner). Bartolomé wrote this quote after describing the mistreatment of the Indians because it was supposed to be irony. The Spanish freed the Indians, giving the Indians hope that they would actually live a better …show more content…
He wanted freedom for the slaves despite he had been a slaves’ owner. In this period of time, when he had slaves, he noticed that the slaves were human beings like everyone else and was inhuman to keep them enslaved, which was why he was famous for his defense of the rights of the native people of the Americas. Las Casas described the native people as being humble, patient, generous, peaceable, and free from hatred. In addition, the natives were complacent and kind hearted which meant they were weak and unable to endure any lasting hardship. Las Casas also said they were ignorant of the intentions of the Spanish. He describes the Spanish as being extremely ambitious and selfish. He said they had no regard for any human life in America that stood between them and gold. Las Casas denounced Spain for causing the death of millions of innocent people through cruelty such as the burning alive men, women, and children and the imposition of forced labor. His efforts resulted in Spain promulgating the New Laws of 1542 that ordered that Indians no longer be enslaved. His writings became the basis for the Black Legend, the image of Spain as a cruel empire. This document has related to American history in discrete ways. Previously, America has treated Native Americans hideously. The United States forcibly removed Native Americans to reservation, removing freedom from
Las Casas said “even beasts enjoy more freedom when they are allowed to graze in the fields. But our Spaniards gave no such opportunity to Indians and truly considered them perpetual slaves” (Foner). In doing this, he described that beasts have more freedom grazing in a field than the Indians did under Spanish enslavement. In addition, he connected his previous statements by showing that the Spaniards treated the Indians like human waste. After that, he said “when they [Indians] were allowed to go home, they often found it deserted and had no other recourse than to go out into the woods to find food and to die. When they fell ill, which was very frequently because they are a dedicate people unaccustomed to such work, the Spaniards did not believe them and pitilessly called them lazy dogs, and kicked and beat them; and when illness was apparent they sent them home as useless, giving them some cassava for the twenty- to eighty-league journey. . . . I sometimes came upon dead bodies on my way, and upon others who were gasping and moaning in their death agony, repeating “Hungry, hungry.” And this was the freedom, the good treatment and the Christianity that Indians received” (Foner). Bartolomé wrote this quote after describing the mistreatment of the Indians because it was supposed to be irony. The Spanish freed the Indians, giving the Indians hope that they would actually live a better …show more content…
He wanted freedom for the slaves despite he had been a slaves’ owner. In this period of time, when he had slaves, he noticed that the slaves were human beings like everyone else and was inhuman to keep them enslaved, which was why he was famous for his defense of the rights of the native people of the Americas. Las Casas described the native people as being humble, patient, generous, peaceable, and free from hatred. In addition, the natives were complacent and kind hearted which meant they were weak and unable to endure any lasting hardship. Las Casas also said they were ignorant of the intentions of the Spanish. He describes the Spanish as being extremely ambitious and selfish. He said they had no regard for any human life in America that stood between them and gold. Las Casas denounced Spain for causing the death of millions of innocent people through cruelty such as the burning alive men, women, and children and the imposition of forced labor. His efforts resulted in Spain promulgating the New Laws of 1542 that ordered that Indians no longer be enslaved. His writings became the basis for the Black Legend, the image of Spain as a cruel empire. This document has related to American history in discrete ways. Previously, America has treated Native Americans hideously. The United States forcibly removed Native Americans to reservation, removing freedom from