Question

letter from king ferdinand and queen isabella of spain to the governor of hispaniola, 1503
our desire is that the christians not lack people to work their holdings and to take out what gold there is. it also is our desire that the indians live in community with the christians, because they then will help each other cultivate and settle the island, take out the gold, and bring profit to spain.
therefore, we command you, our governor, to compel the indians to associate with the christians. the indians should work on the christians’ building, mine the gold, till the fields, and produce food for the christians.
thus the indians shall perform as free people, which they are, and not as slaves. also, see to it that the indians are well treated, with those who become christians better treated than the others. do not consent or allow any person to do them any harm or oppress them.
—ferdinand, king, and queen isabella, “instructions to commander nicolás de ovando, third governor of hispaniola from king ferdinand and queen isabella of spain.” letter to ferdinand nicolás de ovando, 1503, new iberian world: a documentary history of the discovery and settlement of latin america to the early 17th century, vol. ii.
according to the source above, which of the following had the most significant effect on the spanish treatment of native americans?
select one answer
a whether or not the native americans resisted.
b how much gold the native americans found.
c whether or not the native americans converted to christianity.
d how well the native americans treated the spanish.

Explanation:

The source is a letter about Spanish treatment of Native Americans, focusing on work, settlement, and fair treatment. Option D asks "How well the Native Americans treated the Spanish" – but the text is from Spanish rulers to a governor, emphasizing Spanish treatment of Natives (work, Christianity, no harm). Wait, no: re-reading, the letter says "the Indians shall perform as free people... not as slaves" and "better treated than others" – so the text is about Spanish instructions on treating Natives. But the question is which factor was most significant in Spanish treatment. Wait, the options: A (resistance), B (gold found), C (conversion), D (how Natives treated Spanish). Wait, no – the question is "which of the following had the MOST significant effect on the Spanish treatment of Native Americans?" Wait, maybe I misread. Wait, the source is a letter from Spanish monarchs to the governor, giving instructions: use Natives as free labor, not slaves, better treat Christians (Natives who converted?), and no harm. So the key here: the text mentions "the Indians are well treated, with those who become Christians better treated". So conversion to Christianity (Option C) is a factor in Spanish treatment (better treatment for Christians). Let's analyze options:

• A: Resistance – the text doesn't mention Native resistance, so not significant here.
• B: Gold found – the text mentions taking gold, but the treatment (free labor, no harm, better for Christians) is about labor and religion, not gold quantity.
• C: Conversion to Christianity – the text says "those who become Christians better treated", so conversion affects treatment.
• D: How Natives treated Spanish – the text is Spanish instructions to govern Natives, not about Native treatment of Spanish.

So the most significant factor in Spanish treatment (from the source) is whether Natives converted to Christianity (C), as it directly affects their treatment (better treatment for Christians).

Answer:

C. Whether or not the Native Americans converted to Christianity.