New Laws of 1542

Definition

The New Laws of 1542 were a set of regulations enacted by the Spanish crown in its American colonies, aimed at protecting the indigenous peoples from exploitation and abuse by Spanish settlers. These laws granted certain rights to the indigenous population and limited the power of encomenderos (landowners) over them.

Related terms

Encomienda System: A system implemented by Spain in which colonists were granted land and indigenous people as laborers in exchange for converting them to Christianity.

Bartolomé de las Casas: A Spanish priest who advocated for better treatment of Indigenous peoples during colonization.

Repartimiento System: A labor system similar to encomienda but with more government control, where indigenous people were required to work for a fixed period each year on public projects or private enterprises.