In 1511, Fray Antonio Montesinos spoke the words, “Are these not also men?” His famous quote was a response to the mistreatment of the indigenous peoples that inhabited the Americas, by the conquering Spanish. Immediately upon discovering and colonizing the New World a widespread debate arose in regards to the usage and treatment of the native Indians. This debate was primarily focused on how to classify the Indians. Many people believed that the Indians were not human at all and should be allowed to be treated merely as slaves. The opposing side, the church, argued back that the Indians, no matter how seemingly uncivilized they lived, were humans.

A major argument resulted and the question as to how a human being is classified as being a human became a fiery debate among many. The Spanish conquerors believed that, like animals, the Indians did not have rational souls, or the ability to reason. Also, in conjunction, the Conquerors used the views of a medieval Dominican named Thomas Aquinas as justification for their reasoning.

The Church’s point of view was that in order to have and maintain power in the New World they would need the numbers of the Indians to be included in their community as followers. Patricia Seed, the author of this journal offers her line of thinking. It is that both sides of the debate were trying to monopolize the Indians for their own benefits. The Spaniards, to become more prosperous themselves and the Church, to strengthen there own political base in the New World. She argues that neither side was fully justified and underhanded motives had much to do with each side’s actions. (Seed, 640)

The church, in an attempt to end the debate, sought the opinion of the pope himself and in 1537 Pope Paul III issued an official statement regarding the Indians. “We....consider, however, that the Indians are truly men and that they are...capable of understanding the catholic faith.” The Spanish Crown, agreed with the Pope’s statement. Queen Isabella used this to Spain’s advantage when she declared that all the indigenous peoples conquered in Spanish territory

Some common words found in the essay are:
Spanish Immediately, Automatically Indian, Spain Seed, Thomas Aquinas, Patricia Seed, Antonio Montesinos, Paul III, Isabella Spain’s, World Indians, Spanish Crown, neither justified, indigenous peoples, “are men”,
Approximate Word count = 741
Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)