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?

Question

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?

Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because there were fewer people to work in the colonies.
Colonial rule was strengthened by decreases in the indigenous population because it meant they would face less resistance from colonial populations.
Colonial rule was strengthened by indigenous population decreases because it meant they could focus less on the unpopular social caste system.
Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because it led to more resistance to Spanish colonial rule.

Answer 1

The correct statement is: Colonial rule was weakened by decreases in the indigenous population because it led to more resistance to Spanish colonial rule. The quote states that the population shrank from 60 million to 6 million after the Spanish arrival. This significant decrease in population suggests that there were likely various factors at play, such as disease, enslavement, and violence, that contributed to the decline. The indigenous populations would likely have been devastated by these events and would have experienced significant social, cultural, and economic upheaval. As a result, they would have been more motivated to resist Spanish colonial rule.