New Laws
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The New Laws (or Leyes Nuevas in Spanish) of 1542 were created to prevent the exploitation of the indigenous people by the encomenderos during the Spanish colonization of the Americas. They were enforced by Blasco Núñez Vela, the first viceroy of Peru, who quickly became unpopular among the encomenderos and fled to Quito to escape a large revolt.
The laws were the results of a reform movement spured by what was seen as the failure of the decades-old Leyes de Burgos, which appeared to have simply legalized the system of forced Indian labor. During the reign of Carlos V, the reformers gained steam, with Bartolomé de las Casas as a notable leading advocate. His goal was the abolition of the encomienda system, which forced the Indians to abandon their previous lifestyle and destroyed their culture. He was able to influence the king, and the fruit of the reformers' labor was the New Laws.
The New Laws consisted of many regulations on the encomienda system, including its solemn prohibition of the enslavement of the Indians and provisions for the gradual abolition of the encomienda system. It prohibited the sending of indigenous people to work in the mines unless it was absolutely necessary, and required that they be taxed fairly and treated well. It ordered public officials or clergy with encomienda grants to return them immediately to the Crown, and stated that encomienda grants would not be hereditarily passed on, but would be canceled at the death of the individual encomenderos.
However, the promulgation of the New Laws caused great unrest in Spanish America, leading to a revolt in Peru, led by Gonzalo Pizarro. The revolt led to the overthrow of Blasco Núñez Vela, who had attempted to impose the decrees. Carlos V and the court became alarmed, and were convinced that the abolition of the encomienda system would bring economic ruin to the colonies. Finally, on October 20, 1545, 30 of the rules were suppressed, and the place of the encomienda system was again secure.
[edit] References
- Kenneth J. Andrien, Andean Worlds, 2001
- Joseph Pérez. Historia de España ISBN 84-8432-091-X
