What type of labor did indigenous peoples and Africans resist during European colonization?

Indigenous peoples and Africans primarily resisted mining and agricultural labor during European colonization due to the extreme exploitation and harsh conditions associated with these forms of labor.

Mining often required intense physical exertion in dangerous environments, leading to high mortality rates among laborers. In the Americas, the Spanish enslaved Indigenous populations to extract valuable minerals like silver and gold, particularly in regions such as present-day Mexico and Peru. This forced labor was met with resistance in various forms, including revolts and flight.

Agricultural labor involved the forced cultivation of cash crops on plantations. This system relied heavily on enslaved Africans, particularly in the Caribbean and the southern colonies of North America, where crops like sugar, tobacco, and cotton were cultivated. The brutal conditions and oppressive systems of control led enslaved people to resist through uprisings, work slowdowns, and escape attempts.

The resistance was rooted in a desire for autonomy, dignity, and the preservation of cultural identity, making this type of labor a focal point of conflict and resistance during the early periods of colonization.