Question

how did the spanish justify the forced labor of indigenous peoples under the encomienda system? by providing freedom to indigenous peoples after a set number of days by offering to share the profits from mining and farming by arguing that indigenous peoples were already enslaving each other by claiming they would provide protection and christian instruction

Explanation:

The encomienda system was a labor system in Spanish colonies. The Spanish justified forced labor by claiming they would provide protection (from other groups or threats) and Christian instruction (converting Indigenous peoples to Christianity was seen as a "benefit" in their colonial ideology). The other options are incorrect: there was no set freedom after days in the encomienda system's core justification; profit - sharing was not the main justification for forced labor; and the claim about Indigenous enslaving each other was a false and self - serving argument not as central as the protection and Christian instruction claim.

Answer:

By claiming they would provide protection and Christian instruction.