MODULE 1- LABOUR SYSTEMS USED BY THE EUROPEANS

AMERINDIAN LABOUR (15th to 16th century), Encomienda= (1500s TO 1720s)

- Spain systematically used Hispaniola as a base for exploration followed by

the conquering of the Greater Antilles and then parts of Central and South
America as well as the Caribbean.
- The Spanish wanted a cheap labour source and forced the indigenous people
to work for them using the encomienda labour system; a labour system
instituted by the Spanish Crown. Control over the natives were divided
amongst the Spaniards, were the encomendero was the one in charge of the
group allotted. The encomendero offered protection against warring tribes as
well as religious instruction in the form of Catholicism. In return, the natives
were required to pay tribute in the form of produce, gold or personal
services. This was a get rich quick scheme as the precious metals were
taken from the conquered people and sent to Spain to increase their
power and legacy in Europe.
- It was geared towards establishing their cultural, racial and social
superiority in the New World by subjecting the natives to Spanish
Leadership and Education.
- Labour consisted of cattle ranching, tobacco and sugar cane farming as well
as mining.
- Subsequent from the Spaniards, the British, French and Dutch came to settle
the land and followed pattern of the Spaniards.
- The Europeans thought that their culture was more superior and that the
Amerindians should feel honoured to adopt the ‘superior’ way. Hence, not
much tolerance was practiced in their dealing with the native folks, as they
felt that their ‘superior’ way gave them right/justified to act with force.
- This inevitably led to the demise of the culture as well as the lives of many
indigenous folk.
- This occurred after the Treaty of Tordesillas (1494), when the Spanish
needed to populate the Americas to make it a true part of their kingdom.
Parcels of Land were given to their citizens were the conquistadors were the
first to receive.
- Had to provide food, clothing and shelter.
 - Some encomendero focused on finding mineral wealth whilst others grew
profitable large farms with cash crops for export to Europe.
- In the 1500s this system made its way to the Caribbean and enslaved the
Tainos.
- Division of Land- encomiendas
- Division of Labour Force- repartimineto(100%economic)
- Encomenderos forgot their responsibility to the Amerindians which resulted
in abuse:
1) Given impossible task of finding gold in places where there were little to
none
2) Were made to work at an unnatural pace for long hours to provide food
for the growing population.

3) Overworked, Hard punishments, European Diseases (no immunity), were

hunted as sport.

Diseases such as small pox, measles, influenza, cholera and venereal diseases were
introduced by Spaniards for which the Amerindians had no immunity or cure.

Wars- Bows and Arrows vs Superior European weapons such as metal swords,
guns and cannons.

Some of the native Indians committed suicide or infanticide.

Amerindians were used as objects of games in chopping of heads or were chased

by killer dogs in sporting hunts.

These factors led to the decimation of Amerindians.

NOT ALL ISLANDS WERE COLONISED BY SPANIARDS, ISLANDS

SUCH AS GUYANA, BELIZE, DOMINICA AND SURINAME WERE
EITHER TOO LARGE TO ESTABLISH FULL CONTROL OVER OR TOO
MOUNTAINOUS TO CULTIVATE. AS SUCH THE AMERINIDANs
WOULD RETREAT INTO THESE PLACES AND SURVIVE.
 - THE PLANTATION SOCIETY-(1640-1650s)

DEFINIION: A unit of agricultural production with a specific economic

organisation characterised by a large resident labour force of unskilled workers
who were directed by a small supervisory staff. This system of production was
implemented by the Europeans were large plots of land were used to grow crops
(sugar cane) on a large scale for export.

This system required large amounts of affordable human labour which was vital to
sustaining the large farms which were on average 150 acres which meant that it
need one labourer per acre for optimum production. A plantation usually had 150-
160 labourers for various aspects of production.

It was a profitable system due to the high demand in Europe; a result of the
growing economic industries. There was little competition as mercantile and
navigation laws prohibited colonies from trading with each other. The principles of
the mercantile system were adopted by European states and dictated the
manufacture of goods from raw materials which meant that they could only
produce raw and not manufactured materials.

Main purpose was for export commodities to foreign markets

A typical plantation had a living quarter for the labourers and ‘provision grounds’
where they would grow food, flour, rice and salted meats had to be brought in.

Sugar factories were located in the central of the plantation and wood was cut from
forested areas. Costs were kept to a minimum to ensure profits were the maximum.

After slavery in 1838, labourers had to pay rent to the plantation owners. Nothing
changed after slavery ended, labour was just as intense and harsh as plantation
owners wanted to ensure they got ‘value for money’.

It was also a means of social control and a total institution. A closed system of
social stratification.

USES OF EXPORTED GOODS:

1) Sugar was used as a sweetener for beverages, and in the making of baked goods
and sweets.

2) Tobacco was used for cigar making.

3) Cotton was used by the garment industries.