Aim:
Identify the elements of
colonial society that caused
unrest in Latin America
Successes of the Revolutions
Successes of American &
French Revolutions, and the
Enlightenment changed ideas
about who should control
government

Ideas of Liberty, Equality, and
Democratic rule found their way
to European colonies

Most of population in Latin
America resented the domination
of European colonial powers

People hoped to gain control of their
lands

Colonial Society Divided
In Latin America, classes dictated
people’s place in society and their jobs


Peninsulares
Top of Spanish-American society
 People who were born in Spain
 Formed tiny percentage of population
 Only class who could hold office in
government


Creoles
Spaniards born in Latin America
 Could not hold high-level political office
 Could rise as officers in Spanish armies

Peninsulares and Creoles controlled
land & wealth with Peninsulares

Mestizos & Mulattos
Mestizos & Mulattos were below
the Peninsulares & Creoles


Mestizos
Persons of mixed European & Indian
ancestry


Mulattos
Persons of mixed European & African
ancestry

Enslaved African were at bottom
of social ladder
