The repartimiento de mercancias was a system of credit, whereby the alcaldes mayores or corregidores either lent money or provided Indigenous people with some kind of tool or animal in exchange for a future payment often in the form of cochineal. While most scholars have suggested that Spanish officials coerced Indigenous people into this form of credit and trade, Jeremy Baskes argues that Indigenous people actually participated willingly in the repartimientos as voluntary, not coerced, actors.

ESSAY PROMPT: For this short writing assignment, you are to examine critically whether Jeremy Baskes’s argument is persuasive. Were the repartimientos coercive or voluntary? Keep in mind that it is perfectly legitimate to change the terms of the debate. In other words, if you deem it appropriate, you can argue that the repartimientos were neither coerced nor voluntary but something else entirely. You may also argue that certain parts were coerced and others voluntary. Whatever your argument, you should focus on explaining your answers with evidence and relevant information. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Baskes’s argument.

*NOTE: Remember to make an argument or main point in the first paragraph and weave it throughout the paper. Make only one argument, and support it with evidence from the secondary sources assigned. Additional research is not necessary. Where helpful, provide quotations to prove your point. Because this is a very short paper, make sure to be concise. Re-read and revise your paper until you are absolutely sure that every word is helping you bolster your argument. Use topic sentences in the beginning of each paragraph, and relate the content of each paragraph to your main argument.