Essay On Colonial Spanish America

Colonial Spanish America was a racially and ethnically stratified hierarchy because of the Casta system. The distinctions were between the ‘races’ and ‘ethnicities’ of Spaniards, Creoles, Blacks, and Native Americans with multiple mixtures of these races creating mestizos, and mulatos among others. This racial and ethnic hierarchy was maintained and perpetuated by the Casta system. The Casta system does not turn one race or ethnicity against another, instead it sub-groups people within a race or ethnicity who try to dominate each other. Those in subordinate positions tried their best to appear like they belonged in another Casta by matching the clothing of the Casta that they desired to be a part of. ‘Gracias al sacar’ became a desirable escape route to one’s assigned race. An …show more content…
Túpac Amaru gained a following of mestizos and Native Americans as well as creoles in the beginning. This came as a backlash against the textile conditions which where harsh and the owners treated the works badly. His followers later would turn on all those who looked Spanish and began to frighten the colonial elites with fears of the entire colonial hierarchy collapsing beneath them. The failed revolution instilled a sense of fear that subordinated people like Natives and African slaves could destroy colonial society. This had long lasting effect that can be seen during the movements of independence. When the creole leaders began their campaigns for revolutions, they excluded Natives and African slaves in fear of a similar situation to that of the Túpac Amaru revolt. Peru became the last of the Spanish colonies to declare independence during this time period in fear of a similar Native revolt that threatened their entire way of life. Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon used the racial hierarchy of Native oppression to