Bartolome’ de Las Casas
In 1503, about a decade after Christopher Columbus landed in Hispaniola, Queen Isabella issued a decree that granted certain Spanish benefactors an estate of land in the New World. These estates were called encomiendas, where natives were encouraged to live and work. Despite Isabella’s orders not to enslave or otherwise mistreat the indigenous peoples (and that they receive a fair wage), the ecomienda system quickly deteriorated into slave-like serfdom. Spanish landowners wielded heavy-handed power, which they abused for many years.
In the early 16th century, Bartolome’ de Las Casas left Spain for Hispaniola, where he became a manager of an encomienda. He participated in slave raids and military expeditions against indigenous populations throughout the West Indies. However, in 1511, Las Casas’ life changed when he heard a sermon by a Dominican friar named Antonio de Montesino:
I am a voice crying in the wilderness … the voice of Christ in the desert of this island … You are all in mortal sin … on account of the cruelty and tyranny with which you use these innocent people. Are these not men? Have they not rational souls? Must not you love them as you love yourselves?”
Las Casas was deeply moved by Montesino’s preaching and gave his life to Jesus Christ. He went on to leave his encomienda, join a monastery, and become the first priest ordained in the New World.
Bartolome’ de Las Casas spent the next 60 years of his life in and out of monasteries, reading, writing, praying, and fighting for the rights of native Americans. While others argued that Indians were less than human, and therefore it was justified to enslave them, Las Casas argued that Indians were fully human, created in the image of God, and should not be enslaved.
When his writings were finally translated and spread around Europe, there was public outrage that pressured the Spanish monarchy to issue “New Laws” in 1542. These New Laws ended Indian slavery, and thus liberated thousands of indigenous Americans. Las Casas was officially appointed as a bishop and “Protector of the Indians.” Today, he is considered one of the first advocates for universal human rights.
Bartolome’ de Las Casas
Randall acts as the lead writer for ColdWater’s Drive Thru History® TV series and Drive Thru History® “Adventures” curriculum.
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