European Colonization Motives · US History

The 'Black Legend' refers to the historical writing that:

  1. Exaggerated Spanish cruelty toward Native Americans to justify other European colonization
  2. Praised the French for their unusually humane treatment of indigenous groups
  3. Documented the secret wealth of the English joint-stock companies
  4. Falsely claimed that the entire Americas were completely uninhabited before European arrival
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Correct answer: Exaggerated Spanish cruelty toward Native Americans to justify other European colonization

While Spanish conquest was undeniably violent, the Black Legend was promoted by English and Dutch rivals. It served as a propaganda tool to paint their own colonial efforts as more benevolent by comparison.

Difficulty: Medium Question 9 of 20

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