Question

why did spanish plantation owners in the west indies begin using enslaved africans instead of enslaved natives?
plantation owners could trade food and clothing for enslaved people.
european diseases had killed much of the native workforce.
plantation owners wanted to help enslaved africans pay their debts.
africans would only sell enslaved people to plantation owners.

Explanation:

European diseases like small - pox decimated the native populations in the West Indies, leaving a shortage of native labor for plantations. So, plantation owners turned to enslaved Africans. The other options are not valid reasons for this shift.

Answer:

European diseases had killed much of the native workforce.