Spanish Colonial Class System

The Spanish Colonial class structure was hierarchical and based on race, birthplace, and social status. The main classes were Peninsulars, Creoles, Mestizos, Indigenous peoples, and Africans. Peninsulars held the highest positions, while Creoles, though wealthy, were excluded from top power roles. Mestizos had limited social mobility, Indigenous peoples faced forced labor, and Africans were at the lowest social status. This class system has left a lasting impact on Latin American societies, with social and economic disparities persisting even after the end of colonial rule.

What was the primary basis for the Spanish Colonial class structure?

• Military service

• Economic status

• Race, birthplace, and social status

• Education level

Who were the Peninsulars in the Spanish Colonial class system?

• Spanish-born individuals in the colonies

• Indigenous leaders

• African slaves

• Mixed European and Indigenous people

What roles did the Peninsulars typically occupy?

• Farmers and artisans

• Military, church, and colonial administration

• Merchants and traders

• Slaves and laborers

Who were the Creoles in the colonial hierarchy?

• African slaves

• People of Spanish descent born in the colonies

• Spanish-born individuals

• Indigenous people

What was a significant source of tension between the Peninsulars and Creoles?

• Land ownership disputes

• Exclusion of Creoles from top colonial administration roles

• Cultural differences

• Religious differences

Who were the Mestizos in the Spanish Colonial class system?

• Spanish-born individuals

• People of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry

• African slaves

• Indigenous leaders

What was the social status of Mestizos in the colonial hierarchy?

• Equal to Peninsulars

• Middle social status with limited mobility

• Highest social status

• Lowest social status

What challenges did Indigenous peoples face in the colonial hierarchy?

• Inability to own land

• Exclusion from religious practices

• Forced labor and severe restrictions

• Lack of access to education

What was the social status of Africans and their descendants in the colonial system?

• Lowest social status with extreme discrimination

• Middle social status

• Highest social status

• Equal to Creoles

What lasting impact did the colonial class system have on Latin American societies?

• Continued social and economic disparities

• Complete integration of all classes

• Elimination of social hierarchies

• End of racial discrimination