What Caused The Pueblo Revolt Of 1680

What Caused the Pueblo Revolt of 1680?
The Pueblo revolt of 1680 definitely changed the Spanish colonial landscape of the 17th century in New Mexico. For more than a century and a half, Spanish colonization seemed to be progressing at a rapid pace. Franciscan friars were spreading the word of God to the native populations and encombiendas were being established. This all came to a halt as a result of the Pueblo revolt of 1680.
At first, it seems that the answer to the question, “What caused the Pueblo Revolt of 1680?� is an easy one: The Pueblo tribal people had reached the end of their rope with the Franciscan friars who were employing barbarism in an effort to force conformity to Christianity. Prior to reading the assigned readings, I read other sources on the Pueblo Revolt of 1680 to gain more historical knowledge. The overwhelming conclusion of the authors was the revolt was solely inspired by religious oppression and forced conformity to Christianity among tribal members by the Franciscans. The answer to the question, “What caused the revolts?� was then relatively simple. The Pueblo tribes united to overthrow the oppressive Franciscans.
However, after reading the assigned readings, deeper questions were ra

Was el Pope the mastermind of the attack? Or was he just carrying out the plans of another person who equally despised the Spanish? Fray Angelico Chavez introduces us to an individual who he claims was the real mastermind of the revolt of 1680. He makes a rather convincing case, albeit bases solely on circumstantial evidence, that a mestizo by the name of Domingo Naranjo was responsible for planning the revolt. According to Chavez’s research, Domingo Naranjo was the descendant of a freed black slave and a native woman.

I mentioned earlier in the paper that I had jumped to an early conclusion about the cause of the Pueblo revolt of 1680. I was definitely enlightened as I read the materials for this assignment, and my perspective shifted to include these different elements that contributed to the cause of the Pueblo revolt of 1680.

Angelico Chavez, “Pohe-yemo’s Representative and the Pueblo Revolt of 1680,” New Mexico Historical Review (1976): 85-126

Knaut presents in his article the role of mestizos, or peoples that were the offspring of Spanish and Native peoples, and their influence on tribal culture. Mestizos were often less loyal to Spain and were viewed as renegades. They were often involved in turmoil among the pueblos. Knaut contends that mestizos had the ability to move extensively among both Pueblo and Hispanic social circles. As a result, there was a great cultural exchange that resulted. This also allowed individuals who might have harbored ill will towards the Spanish to move freely and capitalize upon tribal frustrations at the time.

In addition to the destruction of the Catholic symbols, the violent actions against the Church friars showed the intensity surrounded the revolt. Priests were often sought out to be killed. In contrast, the settlers were murdered more randomly and without the partiality involved in the murders of the friars. Of the thirty-three missionaries who were in Santa Fe, twenty-one were murdered. The settlers, however, only experienced a loss of 380 out of 2,500 residents in the area. During the Santa Fe portion of the revolt, friars were killed at the rate of four friars to every one settler.

The Franciscans resorted to many barbarian acts to spread the word of God and force conformity. Initially, Pueblo peoples were somewhat pleased with the good word the Franciscans brought. Their grasp of Spanish Catholic doctrine and external worship dovetailed nicely with their native mythology. The demands made by the friars were often less onerous than those of their own tribal ritual leaders. As time went on, demand for greater conformity increased by the Franciscans. Tribal peoples failed to see the benefits of a religious movement that promised greater things to come after death when they needed constant divine intervention with their crops, the elements, the animals, and everyday aspects of tribal life. Referring to the Franciscans, “The novelty of their gifts had worn off and their magic had proven ineffectual in producing rain, health, prosperity, and peace.” This led to a rejection of Christianity by the tribes and a return to the native rituals that produced the desired results. As the tribes began practicing their ancient rituals, the Franciscans viewed this as a return to the carnal state of which the