Which statement is true about European conquests in the Americas?
A. When Columbus first arrived in the West Indies, he was faced with the hostility of the Taíno people.
B. Columbus’s men assaulted Taíno men and women and claimed their land for Spain.
C. After Columbus’s encounter, no Spanish conquerors explored the Americas.
D. The Spanish invaders did not have enough weapons to conquer the Native Americans.
To determine which statement is true about European conquests in the Americas, we can analyze each statement separately.
A. When Columbus first arrived in the West Indies, he was faced with the hostility of the Taíno people.
This statement is true. When Christopher Columbus arrived in the West Indies in 1492, he encountered the Taíno people, who initially showed hostility towards the European explorers.
B. Columbus’s men assaulted Taíno men and women and claimed their land for Spain.
This statement is also true. Unfortunately, Columbus's men did resort to violence and mistreated the Taíno people. They assaulted them, claimed their land for Spain, and subjected them to slavery and other forms of exploitation.
C. After Columbus’s encounter, no Spanish conquerors explored the Americas.
This statement is false. Columbus's initial discovery paved the way for subsequent Spanish explorers and conquistadors, who extensively explored and conquered large parts of the Americas. Some notable examples include Hernán Cortés in Mexico and Francisco Pizarro in Peru.
D. The Spanish invaders did not have enough weapons to conquer the Native Americans.
This statement is false. The Spanish invaders held military superiority over the Native Americans due to advanced weaponry, such as guns and cannons, which the Native Americans did not possess. This gave the Spanish a significant advantage in their conquests.
In summary, the true statement about European conquests in the Americas is:
B. Columbus’s men assaulted Taíno men and women and claimed their land for Spain.