The Colonial Experience in
Latin America
In this lesson, students will be able to
define the following terms:
Peninsulares
Criollos
Mestizos
The Colonial Hierarchy
Treatment of American Indians and Africans
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Gold and silver
from the
Americas
were shipped
to Spain.
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Power
• Spain sent royal governors to rule its
colonies in Latin America.
• Gold and silver from the Americas were
shipped to Spain, making it the strongest
power in Europe in the 16th century.
• Conquered lands in the Americas were
frequently divided among the soldiers.
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The conquerors used the Native Americans
to farm the land and work the mines.
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The Encomienda System
• Encomienda was the system of forced
Indian labor.
• Native American Indians were forced to
labor for Europeans.
• Many Native Americans died from the
harsh working conditions and smallpox
disease.
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Smallpox disease led to the deaths
of many Native American Indians.
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The Social Hierarchy
• The social hierarchy in Latin America was
as follows:
Peninsulares
Criollos
Mestizos
Mulattos
Indians
Africans
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Peninsulares were people born on
the Iberian peninsula. They were
the most powerful people in the
Americas.
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Criollos or creoles were people born
in the Americas of European ancestry.
They were wealthy landowners but
could not hold high government positions.
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Mestizos were of mixed ancestry.
They were part-Indian and part-European.
They could not hold government office.
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Mulattos were part-African and
part-European. They were not
able to hold government office.
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Indians were forced to labor in
the encomienda system.
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African slaves were brought in to do
the work a dying Native population
could not do.
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Questions for Reflection:
• What was the social hierarchy of colonial
Latin America?
• Who were peninsulares and why were
they so powerful?
• What was the difference between
peninsulares and criollos?
• Who were mestizos and how were they
treated?
• Describe the treatment of Indians and
Africans.
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