The Leading Cause Of The Pueblo Revolt Of 1680

The Spanish ignorance in the time leading up to the Pueblo revolt is what I believe was one of the major leading causes. The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was quick but also a very bloody revolt. The Pueblo Indians revolted nearly 80 years after the Spaniards had come seeking treasures such as gold and silver. The Franciscans who were trying to force the Pueblo to convert to Christianity were a leading cause of the revolt, the Pueblo Indian could only take so much. According to Andrew L Knaut one of the leading causes not only to the Pueblo revolt but to their success was that the Pueblo Indians were not intimidated anymore (Knaut 115). Knaut says “Pueblo and Spaniard found their lives woven together with increasing intricacy (115).” Knaut believes that the Indians and the Spanish still quarreled with themselves, but that was not a deciding factor in the cause of the revolt. Knaut has made the argument that the inbreeding of Indian and Spaniard which lead to them not being easily controlled by the crown. …show more content…
That’s not a cut and dry question, but, if they had not been trying to spread their religion by shoving it down the Pueblo’s throats it is possibly that it could have ended differently. According to Ramon Gutierrez in the mid 1640’s the Indians had finally realized that the Franciscans were not all that they said they were (Gutierrez 41). As St. Bernard pointed out “Spiritual children are dear and precious but the kisses of the spouse are infinitely agreeable (42).” The Franciscans tried everything to get through to the Indians even going as far as to offer themselves for death by becoming