Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
September 5, 2015
Dear Delegates and Moderators,
Welcome to Council of the Indies! In a few short months, delegates will join other members
of the Council of the Indies to discuss and respond to the issues facing the Latin American
Empire.
The document included here is a ‘topic abstract’ for the Council of the Indies at NAIMUN
LIII. Here, you will find information and avenues for further research on the topics we will
be discussing during the conference.
The intent of this abstract is so that you may begin research and have an understanding of
the material that will be discussed in this committee before a full background guide is
released. Use these abstracts to help you focus on understanding the issues at play in each
topic and the ways in which they may interact with the programs and goals of Council of the
Indies.
We hope to assist you in any way possible in the lead-up to NAIMUN, so if you have any
questions, comments, or concerns, please contact the Chair or CM of the Council of the
Indies—Mattie Haag and Delfin Mendez—directly at mch238@georgetown.edu and
drm79@georgetown.edu
Best,
Aaron and Arnosh
Aaron Wen
Secretary General
Arnosh Keswani
Director General
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Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
The Topics
Dear delegates,
Welcome to the Council of the Indies! This February, you, along with 22 other individuals
with great stake in the future of the region, will be tasked with developing responses to the
widely controversial New Laws. The abolition of the encomienda system and restoration of
rights to natives, arguably the most controversial provision of the 1542 laws, will be one of
the controversies this committee will seek to amend. Also, important to this meeting is
addressing the current administration of the Empire which excludes the colonial elite and
possible reforms to address the political demands of the encomederos.
Topic 1 – Slavery and Rights of the Natives
Spanish Conquest and the Encomienda System
After Spanish conquistadors discovered the new world, exploration and colonization
followed rapidly. The Spanish Empire in the Americas, which spanned all of Central
America and most of South America, was split up into two viceroyalties, New Spain and
Peru. These provinces were further divided into colonies and then large plantation-like
estates, all administered by men of Spanish descent, thereby creating a hierarchy of control
over the region by the Spaniards. Each estate, called a hacienda and intended to provide food
for the colony, was given a grant of native labor, or encomienda, to work without pay growing
cash crops such as cotton, sugar, and coffee.
Treatment of the Natives
It is widely known that indigenous peoples living in the Americas during the European
conquest were treated with cruelty, and that natives were subjected to disease, war, and
enslavement at the hands of the Spanish and the encomienda system. Many Spaniards
considered natives subhuman and beastly, and it was a common belief that the Spanish had
the right to rule and subject to slavery these people because they were uncivilized (as can be
seen in the writings of Juan Ginés de Sepulveda, for example). While this viewpoint was
widely held, others, most notably Bartholomé de las Casas and Francisco de Vitoria,
advocated for the freeing and self-governance of the natives.
The New Laws: Implementation and Response
Spurred by the perceived failure of the much more stringent Leyes de Burgos, or Laws of
Burgos, that essentially legalized forced Indian labor, the New Laws passed in 1542
abolished the encomienda system, prohibited enslavement of the natives, and declared all
Indians free persons. These reforms were met by strong opposition and resistance from
landholders, who were to lose their entire system of labor and income. A revolt in Peru,
headed by landowner Gonzalo Pizarro, led to the killing of the viceroy of Peru. The
resistance was so strong that the laws were revoked in many areas of the empire, ultimately
leading to the failure of the laws and re-establishment of the system of forced Indian labor.
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Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
Topic 2 - The Administration of the Spanish Empire
Spanish conquest and the Challenges to Spanish Control
Following the conquest of the Aztecs in 1521 and the Inca in 1533, Spain proceeded to
control the largest empire of its time. The conquest was facilitated by Spain’s superior
military technology and the outbreak of European disease throughout the native population.
Additionally, pre-existing political conflicts between the different fractions in the Aztecs and
Inca societies help weakened the native kingdoms and provided the Spaniard conquistadors
allies in their expeditions. By 1542, the Spanish Empire faced several administrative
challenges especially between different European factions in Peru and renewed native
resistance. The first of these is related to the question of the implementation of the New
Laws, and how to balance the power between the encomederos and the Spanish monarchy. The
second was related to the difficulty of defending and ruling a continent with a small
contingent of Spanish against the indigenous population.
The Council Of The Indies
The conquest of these new territories required the Spanish Monarchy to establish the largest
bureaucracy in the western word. The governing of the empire was traditionally organized
around separate councils for various regions and activities. They were composed for the
most part of influential inhabitants of the regions and were limited by the local legal
traditions. Due to the Mexican conquest, it became necessary to set up a new organ, the
Council of the Indies, to supervise the American belongings. The difference between
Council of the Indies and those which governed the crown's European territories was that
the latter was staffed exclusively by peninsular Spaniards, not colonist, and was not bound by
any legal tradition its power was nearly absolute. Also, the members were responsible for
proposing appointments and legislation to the King and served as a High Court. Since there
were no members from the colonies in the council, it effectively excluded the conquistadors
from the decision-making process. Additionally, all trade and navigation was controlled by
the Casa de Contratación (House of Trade), an agency of the Council of the Indies established
in Seville. When discussing these aspects, delegates should consider what principles or laws
should limit and guide the Council of the Indies and the methods to create a more
responsive and inclusive colonial administration.
The Viceroyalty of New Spain and Peru
Executive powers were vested in two viceroys, which divided the empire into two
administrative divisions the viceroyalty of New Spain and Peru. These were run by a viceroy
how was appointed by the king. Viceroyalty was then divided into provinces led by
governors who were also appointed and had similar powers to that of a viceroy. Although
the King appoints most governors, the first governors were the conquistadors who
successfully conquered the territories in the crown’s sponsored expeditions. They were also
responsible for the colonial judicial system of the audiencias that were formed in America
from 1511 onward. The current situation is precarious. The implementation of the New
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Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
Laws has allowed resentence to royal control to build. The revolt in the recently established
viceroyalty of Peru, lead by Gonzalo Pizarro, killed the territory’s first viceroy. Additionally,
the Caxcanes Indians have led a brutal war in New Spain and the Inca leader Manco Inca
Yupanqui leads the remnants of the Inca Empire in resistance to Spanish rule.
Additional Considerations
This simulation will take place in 1542, shortly after the New Laws have been passed, the
encomienda system has been abolished, and resistance has begun to spread across the empire.
Delegates are expected to take into account the history of this period as well as the
viewpoint of the individual they are representing; however, it is also encouraged that the
issues are debated in a creative and holistic way and that a new and unique solution is
reached. Resolutions passed will have substantial effects on the Spanish Empire in the
Indies, Spain itself, those administering the empire and those who bow before its king.
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Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
Resources for Further Research
Slavery and the Rights of the Natives
“The Spanish and Native Americans.” European Exploration of the Americas (2011): 71-75.
SchoolWorld. Blackboard Engage. Web. 16 August 2015.
<http://teachersites.schoolworld.com/webpages/TBurke1/files/2.3%20The%20Spanish%
20and%20Native%20Americans.pdf>. Background of Spanish colonization and the
encomienda and hacienda systems as well as the role of religion in the conquest and the abuse of
the natives.
“Native Americans, Treatment of (Spain Vs. England).” Gale Encyclopedia of U.S. Economic
History. 2000. Web. 16 August 2015. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G23406400630.html>. Encyclopedia article detailing the treatment of indigenous people by
conquistadors from Columbus on with comparison between actions taken against the natives
by Spaniards versus the British.
Halsall, Paul. “Modern History Sourcebook: The New Laws of the Indies, 1542.” Fordham
University. Fordham University, July 1998. Web. 16 August 2015.
<http://legacy.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1542newlawsindies.asp>. Introduction and full
text of the 1542 New Laws abolishing the encomienda system and freeing the natives.
Huamán Poma, Letter to a King. Letter to King Philip III of Spain from a Peruvian Native
American complaining about the abuse of Indians by the Spanish.
Writings of Batholomé de las Casas, Vargas Machuca, Juan Ginés de Sepulveda, and
Francisco de Vitoria. Conflicting viewpoint with varying philosophies on the rights of the
Spanish to rule over the natives and the proper treatment of the Indians.
The Administration of the Spanish Empire
Stanley G. Payne, “Chapter Thirteen: The Spanish Empire”. In A History of Spain and
Portugal. Conway, AR: University of Central Arkansas, The Library of Iberian Resources Web. August
18, 2015. http://libro.uca.edu/payne1/payne13.htm.
- Provides an explanation to the administration of the early Spanish empire in Latin
America and Europe taking into account how the differences in administration
between America and Europe.
Walbert, David. "3.1 Spain and America: From Reconquest to Conquest." Spain and
America: From Reconquest to Conquest. Accessed August 17, 2015.
http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/nchist-twoworlds/1677.
- This website contains a basic overview of the formation of Spain and the conquest
of the new world with specific section on such topics as conquistadors, the Aztecs,
and the Incas civilizations.
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Topic Abstract: Council of the Indies
"Colonial Administration." Colonial Administration. Accessed August 14, 2015.
http://faculty.smu.edu/bakewell/BAKEWELL/thinksheets/admin.html.
- This website comprises of a table schematically portraying the organization of
Spanish colonial administration. It also has two maps of the viceroyalties and a
translation of the order of the King two the first viceroy of New Spain in 1535
Hopkins, Jack. "Administration of the Spanish Empire in the Americas." In Handbook of
Bureacracy, edited by Ali Farazmand, 17-27. New York: CRC Press, 1994.
https://books.google.com.pr/books?id=8NBc_QT26ZoC&lpg=PA17&ots=jivDoSlBG&d
q=administration%20of%20the%20spanish%20empire&pg=PA17#v=onepage&q&f=false
- This chapters provides an extensive overview of the bureaucracy established in Latin
America by the Spanish Monarchy and provides and explanations of its failure.
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