Which European power established the encomienda system in the Americas? A.

Spain B. France C. England D. Italy

A. Spain

The encomienda system was a forced labor system the Spanish used in their American colonies to find gold and silver.

The Spanish established colonies in the US Southwest, Mexico, South America, and islands in the Caribbean. The goal of the colony was to find wealth in particular gold and silver mines. To find their way through the landscape and have labor for the mines, Native Americans were forced to work in the encomienda system.

The Spanish set up the encomienda system in the Americas. They set up this system to control American Indian labor while colonizing the Americas. Spanish leaders received groups of Indians which could be exchanged for gold or labor.