In Defense of the Indians

Multiple Choice

In Defense of the Indians
Bartolomé de las Casas
From the fact that the Indians are barbarians it does not necessarily follow that they are incapable of government and have to be ruled by others, except to be taught about the Catholic faith and to be admitted to the holy sacraments. They are not ignorant, inhuman, or bestial. Rather, long before they had heard the word Spaniard they had properly organized states, wisely ordered by excellent laws, religion, and custom. They cultivated friendship and, bound together in common fellowship, lived in populous cities in which they wisely administered the affairs of both peace and war justly and equitably, truly governed by laws that at very many points surpass ours . . .
Yet even if we were to grant that this race has no keenness of mind or artistic ability, certainly they are not, in consequence, obliged to submit themselves to those who are more intelligent and to adopt their ways, so that, if they refuse, they may be subdued by having war waged against them and be enslaved. . . . We are bound by natural law to embrace virtue. . . . No one, however, is punished for being bad unless he is guilty of rebellion. Where the Catholic faith has been preached in a Christian manner as it ought to be, all men are bound by natural law to accept it, yet no one is forced to accept the faith of Christ.
-In their attitude toward Native Americans, Las Casas generally

A) held typical European worldviews of the primitive customs of indigenous peoples.
B) believed it necessary to convert the indigenous peoples to Catholicism by force.
C) recognized that American societies had complexities and sophistication before the arrival of Europeans.
D) admired their intelligence.