AP Success - AP World History: Colonial Dynamics in Hispaniola
"Hispaniola, or St. Domingo, was the first settlement founded by Columbus: after he was gone, number of adventurers flocked thither, whose hearts were hardened by avarice and fanaticism. The safety of the Indians never entered the thoughts of these men... The Spaniards who landed on that coast pretended to be civilized, theh standard of Christ was borne before them, and they proclaimed themselves the propagators of his benevolent doctrines. How they practised his precepts may be judged of by the consequences of their arrival. It is computed that Hispaniola then contained a million of Indians; in reducing them to christianity and slavery, immense numbers were massacred by fire arms and blood hounds: when resistance cased, the wretched Indians having excessive tasks imposed upon them, and being forced to work in the mines, were consumed with labor and famine: and the remainder of this hapless race were totally extinguished by the Measles and Small Pox. "
An excerpt from the 1815 book The History of the Small Pox by James Carrick Moore. Digital Public Library of America.
Question 1
According to the source, what was the initial attitude of the Spanish towards the indigenous people of Hispaniola?
They immediately recognized the sovereignty of the Indian nations.
They were primarily concerned with the safety and well-being of the Indians.
They pretended to be civilized and bearers of Christian doctrines.
They sought to establish equal trade relations with the indigenous population.
Question 2
What does the source imply was a significant factor in the decline of the indigenous population of Hispaniola?
The introduction of diseases such as Measles and Small Pox.
The successful military alliances formed by the Indians against the Spaniards.
The establishment of democratic institutions by the Spaniards.
The voluntary migration of Indians to other parts of the Americas.
Question 3
The source describes the Spaniards' treatment of the Indians in Hispaniola as being driven by:
A desire to integrate into Indian society.
Avarice and fanaticism.
Respect for Indian cultural and religious practices.
Efforts to maintain peace and avoid conflict.
Question 4
What does the source suggest about the Spaniards' proclaimed mission in Hispaniola?
Their mission was primarily focused on scientific and geographical exploration.
They successfully converted the entire Indian population to Christianity.
There was a stark contrast between their proclaimed mission and their actual practices.
They were welcomed by the Indians as liberators from oppressive local rulers.
Question 5
The source indicates that the labor imposed on the Indians by the Spaniards was:
Designed to educate and train Indians in European trades and crafts.
Focused on agricultural activities that were familiar to the Indians.
Light and manageable, with ample time for rest.
Excessive and coupled with forced work in the mines.
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