Latin American Creoles Analysis

Latin American colonies during the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries were a hotbed of resentment and discontent among the lower castes of society. Indigenous and slave populations were brutalized and exploited in order to fill the coffers of aristocratic elites and foreign monarchies. Somewhere in the middle, a growing population of mixed-race ethnic groups found themselves ostracized and struggling to find their niche in life. News of foreign events and new philosophies and ideologies filtered into the New World from around the globe and inspired the oppressed masses to rise up under the leadership of a few extraordinary men who helped them fight for independence and bring an end to tyranny. As tensions mounted, these influences helped …show more content…
It pitted royalist loyal to the crown against patriots who wanted autonomy. News of the American and French Revolutions inspired revolts and dreams of change. The goals of various castes of society differed based on their own particular set of circumstances, but ultimately the creoles, mestizos, indigenous and slaves all wanted to improve their quality of life and achieve freedom from their oppressors. The creoles situation was uniquely different from the other groups because they were a free people subjected to mistreatment and social isolation from both ends of the social spectrum. Their main goal, however, was the elimination of forced tribute to the aristocratic elite who systematically prohibited their advancement in social, political and economic endeavors. Creoles found their champion in Simón Bolívar, a strong leader who was born to an aristocratic creole family and influenced by Enlightenment writings on rationalism and materialism. Bolívar helped bring an end to infringements against creoles in northern South America, such as paying tribute and limiting the right of citizenship only to property owners. Creoles also found strong leadership under Father Miguel Hidalgo after the Bourbon monarchy issued policies ordering the Church to collect outstanding debts and mortgages under the Consolidación de Vales Reales, which caused financial hardships and despair among the creole population and further alienating them from the Crown. In addition the revolts encouraged a growing sense of nationalism and loyalty to the provinces. Unfortunately changes these leaders helped accomplish for creoles usually excluded the indigenous and slave