How did the encomienda system end?

Answer 1

The encomienda system gradually ended due to a combination of factors, including increased criticism from religious figures like Bartolomé de las Casas, who advocated for the rights of Indigenous peoples. Additionally, the Spanish Crown sought to reform colonial practices to reduce abuses and improve relations with Indigenous populations. Over time, the system was replaced by other labor systems, such as the repartimiento and hacienda systems, which still exploited Indigenous labor but in different forms. By the late 17th century, the encomienda system had largely been dismantled.