Repartimiento

Definition

Repartimiento was a labor system instituted in Spanish colonies that mandated the allocation of indigenous labor for Spanish settlers and colonial enterprises. This system emerged as a way to provide labor to the growing colonial economy while attempting to regulate the abuses associated with the earlier encomienda system.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Repartimiento was officially established in the late 16th century as part of the Spanish Crown's efforts to regulate the treatment of indigenous populations.
2. Under repartimiento, indigenous workers were required to work for a certain number of days per week for Spanish landowners or state projects, which often led to exploitative conditions.
3. The repartimiento system was less severe than encomienda but still resulted in significant hardships for indigenous peoples, contributing to their population decline due to overwork and disease.
4. This system allowed colonial authorities to ensure a steady supply of labor for agriculture and mining, crucial for the economic development of New Spain.
5. As the colonial economy evolved, repartimiento faced criticism and was eventually replaced or supplemented by other labor systems, including debt peonage and slavery.

Review Questions

• How did the repartimiento system differ from the encomienda system in its treatment of indigenous laborers?
  • The repartimiento system was designed to be less exploitative than the encomienda system by regulating the amount of labor required from indigenous people. While encomienda allowed landowners almost total control over their laborers, including demanding tribute without oversight, repartimiento limited labor obligations to specific days per week and sought to protect indigenous rights. However, despite these intentions, both systems resulted in severe hardships for the indigenous population.
• What role did repartimiento play in shaping the agricultural practices introduced by Europeans in New Spain?
  • Repartimiento significantly impacted agricultural practices by providing a structured labor force for European settlers who were introducing European farming techniques. Indigenous workers were compelled to work on these new agricultural estates, cultivating crops like wheat and sugarcane that were not native to the region. This reliance on forced labor contributed to the growth of an export-oriented agricultural economy that favored Spanish interests over those of indigenous peoples.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of the repartimiento system on indigenous populations and colonial economies in New Spain.
  • The long-term effects of the repartimiento system included profound demographic changes among indigenous populations due to overwork, disease, and social disruption. Economically, it allowed colonial authorities to establish a reliable labor force that supported both agricultural expansion and mining operations critical for wealth generation. The legacy of repartimiento also contributed to ongoing cycles of exploitation and resistance among indigenous communities, influencing later labor practices and social hierarchies that would persist throughout colonial rule and beyond.

Related terms

Encomienda: A labor system that allowed Spanish colonists to demand tribute and forced labor from indigenous people in exchange for providing protection and Christian education.

Mita: A forced labor system used in the Inca Empire that was adapted by the Spanish in colonial Peru, compelling indigenous people to work in mines and agriculture.

Casta System: A hierarchical social structure in colonial Latin America based on race and ethnicity, which determined one's social status, rights, and privileges.