Lesson 2: Bartolomé de las Casas, “Protector of Indians”

In this lesson, students will begin to take a closer look at slavery by examining a prominent European figure involved in the Native American slave trade. Though las Casas became known as the “Protector of Indians” in advocating for the protection of indigenous peoples, his earlier actions, like owning Native slaves and endorsing Spain’s system of race-based slavery, still resulted in harm being done to Native communities and African slaves. With this example in mind, students will consider the bias involved in the glorification of European figures.