The Econmienda System: Laying the Foundation for Racism in Latin America

When the Spanish began their conquest and exploration of the New World, they brought many of their
homeland traditions with them. One of the institutions they brought with them was the encomienda
system. In many ways, the encomienda system resembled a feudal system: The Spanish monarchy granted
conquistadors, soldiers, and other officials control over a specific number of Indians, and later Africans,
as well as the lands on which those Indians lived. Therefore, the Spanish would control the land, the
natives or Africans would work for the Spanish, and they would receive food and protection from the
Spanish; however, many would not protect them and actually took advantage of their labor.

The rights of Indians and Africans were ignored because of the high demand to continually increase
commerce in the area. By providing labor, the Indians and Africans played an important role in colonial
society. The Indians were soon trapped in a vicious cycle: they needed food, but did not have money to
buy food because the money they made from working the land went to the Spanish landlord. Many
Indians were dying from disease, exhaustion, and starvation; therefore, the Spanish increased the number
of Africans taken to the New World to work in the fields.

The conquest of Latin America by the Conquistadors and the implementation of the Encomienda system,
laid the foundation for the Caste System in Latin America. A caste system is simply when society is
divided into different classes based on heredity (meaning who your ancestors were will determine which
class you fall into). There were four main classes in Latin America and the top classes controlled most of
the wealth and had rights, while the bottom classes tended to be poor or were slaves. The pyramid chart
below shows the four main classes.

Born in Spain but settles

in Latin America.
 Have Spanish ancestry but are born in the New World

Mix of Spanish and Native or African ancestry

Slaves and Natives