Document 6
… growing sugar cane became a large business. at first, native americans were forced to
work on sugar plantations, large estates run by an owner or overseer. they were treated
cruelly, and many died. the spanish then brought slaves from africa to do the work.
a new social structure developed. people born in spain made up the highest social class.
those of european descent born in the colonies were next. people of mixed european and
indian or african descent were in the middle. native americans and people of african
descent were in the lowest classes.…
source: guide to the essentials of world history, prentice hall
based on this document, what were two changes in the americas that resulted from interactions with the
spanish? [2]