Read this quote: "Before Spanish arrival there is estimated to be about 60 million people in the Americas. After Spanish arrival this population shrank to about 6 million people." Using evidence from the quotation, which statement correctly analyzes the effectiveness of Spanish colonial rule? (1 point)
Colonial rule was strengthened by indigenous population decreases because it meant they could focus less on the unpopular social caste system.
Colonial rule was strengthened by decreases in the indigenous population because it meant they would face less resistance from colonial populations.
Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because it led to more resistance to Spanish colonial rule.
Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because there were fewer people to work in the colonies.
Based on the evidence provided in the quotation, the most accurate statement would be:
Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because there were fewer people to work in the colonies.
This is because a significant decrease in the indigenous population, from 60 million to 6 million, would have drastically reduced the labor force available for the Spanish colonizers to exploit for various economic activities (such as mining, agriculture, and infrastructure development). As a result, the ability of the Spanish to extract wealth from the colonies would have been impaired due to a shortage of laborers.
The other options do not align with the evidence as directly. Decreases in the indigenous population would not necessarily strengthen colonial rule by reducing resistance or focusing less on social caste systems. In fact, a decreased population might lead to greater resistance due to the disruption and devastation caused by the Spanish arrival and the diseases they brought, and the social caste system remained an integral part of colonial administration regardless of population size.