In 3 sentences, explain why enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in filling the need of the plantations. Support your answer by using one piece of qualitative and one piece of quantitative information from Las Casas’s writing.

A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indies

Enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas was largely unsuccessful in filling the need of the plantations because many of them died from disease and mistreatment, as noted by Las Casas who described the staggering death toll among the Indigenous population. Furthermore, the harsh conditions and abuse faced by the enslaved Indigenous peoples led to many of them resisting and revolting against their captors, diminishing their productivity on the plantations. Ultimately, the reliance on Indigenous labor proved unsustainable as the population continued to decline rapidly, as reported by Las Casas who witnessed the devastating impact of the Spanish conquest on the Indigenous communities.

make a little shorter

Enslaving the Indigenous peoples of the Americas failed to meet the needs of the plantations, as many died from disease and mistreatment, as documented by Las Casas. Additionally, the harsh conditions and abuse faced by the enslaved population led to resistance and revolts, reducing their productivity. Ultimately, the rapid decline in the Indigenous population made the reliance on their labor unsustainable, as observed by Las Casas.