Amerindian Resistance
"When one looks back over human existence, it is very evident that all cultures have developed through an initial resistance against adaptation to the reality in which they find themselves." (Beatrice Hinkle) It is obvious that in Las Casas' book, Amerindians are constantly undermined and are made to appear as innocent children that are unable and unwilling to defend themselves. It is true that throughout the European conquest Amerindians did not aggressively resist, instead they were submissive and passive to most European actions. However, this was not always the case. At times Amerindians resisted by fighting the Europeans to defend their lands, people and culture.
At first, Amerindians attempted many times to passively resist the assimilation of their culture. They sincerely believed that through kindness and meekness the Europeans would become friends with them and that they would co-exist happily. However, they soon discovered that "their deep humility, generosity and submissiveness did nothing to soften he hearts of the Spaniards...
Abduction of Europe
Three gringos in Central America and Venezuela by ...
The habit of the Dominicans is black and white.they decided that they stood no chance against defeating the ferocious enemies, ... but they might as well die as men in defense of their homes." (Las Casas p.58) This led the Amerindians to take a rebellious stance, in which they planted tricks and traps for the Europeans. In 1598 Mancio Sierra de Leguizamo wrote in his will that "These natives have become so dissolute with their offenses against God because of bad examples we have given them in everything that their former extreme of doing no evil has been transformed, so that today they do little or no good." (Burns p.15)
The Europeans learned that the Amerindians would resist aggressively when provoked to the extreme. Amerindians attempted assaults that were rarely successful against the Europeans. They defended their lands, fought the Europeans and even attempted...