What caused the Encomienda system to end?

The Encomienda system began to decline due to a combination of factors, including growing criticism of its harsh treatment of Indigenous peoples and the rise of human rights advocacy among Spanish reformers, such as Bartolomé de Las Casas. Additionally, the system became less economically viable as Indigenous populations diminished due to disease and exploitation. The Spanish crown eventually sought to reform colonial practices, leading to the abolition of the Encomienda system in the late 17th century.