- Disease: European diseases such as smallpox, measles, and influenza devastated the native population, to which they had no immunity. It is estimated that up to 90% of the native population died from disease within the first century of European contact.
- War and violence: The Spanish conquistadors and their indigenous allies waged war against the native peoples, resulting in widespread death and destruction. The Spanish also used brutal methods of repression, such as torture and execution, to subdue the native population.
- Enslavement: The Spanish enslaved millions of native people, forcing them to work in the mines, on plantations, and in other labor-intensive industries. Many natives died from overwork, malnutrition, and disease while enslaved.
- Cultural disruption: The Spanish conquest disrupted traditional native ways of life, including their religious practices, social structures, and economic systems. This cultural disruption led to widespread social and psychological problems, including alcoholism, drug abuse, and suicide.