Early European Rational for Cultural Genocide

Euro-American morality and ethics can be portrayed through the ideas that were popular with Spain, in their “era of discovery.” This nation’s greed for wealth, desire for land, religious beliefs, and belief in racial superiority were its primary genocidal rationales. Such rationales have been held and practiced by various European nations, which have woven through the American Nation’s beginnings through modern times.

Gaining wealth was the prominent desire for the Spanish Conquistadors. This wealth was procured with gold in South America, and later with slaves from the northern continent. Although Ferdinand and Isabella attempted to direct a humane system of rules in dealing with Indians, it was impossible for the crown to keep funding expeditions without oppressing the natives (Venebles 4-5).

The quest for land has also been a prevailing motivation in the destruction of Native Americans. One reason behind this is the expansion of European populations. More people meant more resources needed for their food, housing, and clothing. Another reason, for example in the case of the Spanish, was the strategic use of the land for political purposes. Spain desired control over the coastal areas of Florida, in order to protect the gold they were transporting from Mexico. With the coast under Spain’s power, their enemies could not plunder them as easily (Venebles 25).

The Catholic Religion believed it was doing the Indians a favor in sharing it’s beliefs. Converting the Indians by will or force was seen as the work of God. A prime example of this is seen in 1513, when the Spanish monarchy legitimized the conquest of the Americas with the Requerimiento. They told the Indians that they could either accept the Pope and Crown, or be subject to enslavement. The Requerimiento stated that whatever happened was at the fault of the Natives (Venebles 6).

I find one of the more prominent rationalities behind the European conquest of America, is the idea of racial superiority. This opinion was held by Spanish Scholar Juan Gines de Sepulveda, who regarded the Natives as “inferior in culture, government, history, and civilization” (Venebles 22). The rationality behind ideas such as this can be traced back to Aristotle’s teachings that some racial groups are “naturally inferior” and well suited for slavery (Venebles 5). These ideas have stuck with non-natives through the modern era. All too often Native Americans are being blamed for their own hardships, little known by the ignorance of modern European descendants that they have a part in the oppression of this struggle. 

Venebles, Robert W. American Indian History. Vol. 1. Santa Fe: Clear Light, 2004.