g the Incas. m of American their ns, and will zation d the d ideas Indians 2. Draw Conclusions Why were American Indians unable to defeat the Spanish conquistadors? 3. Identify Main Ideas Describe the main characteristics of government, religion and economics in Spain's colonies in the Americas. 4. Categorize Explain how the people of Spanish colonial society were categorized into different social classes. 5. Connections to Today As in the encomienda system, debt slavery is a common form of forced labor today in nations such as India. Why is this form of slavery especially difficult to escape?

1. The American Indians were unable to defeat the Spanish conquistadors due to the technological superiority of the Spanish, including their firearms and steel weapons, and the diseases they brought with them, which decimated the native populations.<br />2. The main characteristics of government, religion, and economics in Spain's colonies in the Americas included a centralized government controlled by Spain, the spread of Catholicism as the primary religion, and an economy based on the extraction of natural resources and the establishment of plantations.<br />3. The people of Spanish colonial society were categorized into different social classes based on their race and birthplace. At the top were the Peninsulares, who were born in Spain and held the highest positions in the government and church. Below them were the Creoles, who were of Spanish descent but born in the Americas. The Mestizos, who were of mixed Spanish and Indian ancestry, were below the Creoles. At the bottom were the Indians and Africans, who were often enslaved.<br />4. Debt slavery is especially difficult to escape in nations such as India because it is often tied to poverty and lack of access to education and employment opportunities. Additionally, legal and social structures often make it difficult for individuals to escape their debts.