Essay Database

The Spanish first set out to settle New Mexico around 1600. Although there were a few revolts in the first half of the 17th century, Van Hastings Garner believes that the period was one of relative harmony amongst Indians, Spanish officials, and the Spanish religious presence. But in 1680, a multi-tribal revolt destroyed many Spanish towns and drove the Spanish out of the Pueblo land. The reasons for this highly organized revolt are many and complicated, but …

…some long-term freedoms. In the future, the Spanish would unite with the Pueblo tribes against common Indian enemies. The Spaniards who came back at the end of the century also, "appear to have demonstrated greater tolerance for Pueblo religious practices and made fewer demands on Pueblo labor..."(Weber, 15). In this way, the revolt was unsuccessful in eliminating Spanish rule, but it free the Indians from ever again suffering the brutal conditions that led to rebellion.