During 17th century New Spain there where three institutional authorities that slaves could turn to in case of abuse: their owner, the church, and the crown. The owner often times dismissed the issue and often times beat the slave for claiming that they were being abused. Other times the slaves were forced to go to the church, otherwise known as the Inquisition. There the slaves often renounced Christianity, committing a blasphemous crime and therefore gaining the churches attention. Ultimately the last resort would have been to go to the crown. Moreover, the slaves had easier access to their owners so usually they went to them first with their problems. The fact that slave owners rarely cared about their slaves sent the slaves looking for
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Autonomy meant that people could still rule themselves and their people, while still being controlled by an even higher power. The people in New Spain greatly enjoyed this way of life, because it meant that the institutional authorities were flexible and easy to manipulate. Social statuses were defined by many different characteristics which include limpieza de sangre, calidad, occupation, cultural practices, skin color and gender. People could also move up the social latter by being good Christians and living a good life. For example, in the case of Esperanza, she reached her goal of becoming a nun by being a great Christian who always was trying to help others. This was extremely rare considering that slaves could not become nuns. Slaves were not able join any religious order because “non-Spaniards did not meet the requirements of limpieza de sangre, or the purity of blood that was necessary for men and women taking religious orders” (Button 25).Even though protection wasn’t really offered to slaves through the institutional authorities, the fact that Mexico was considered an autonomy greatly made up for any lack of protection that the institutional authorities did not provide. Autonomy game slaves hope for the future. It meant that everyone had an equal chance to move up in society.
This resources show that the layers of institutional authority in colonial Mexico were powerful yet ineffective. Institutional authorities did not really provide any support for slaves and cared very little for them. Slaves were left unprotected because of this and turned to other alternative
Autonomy meant that people could still rule themselves and their people, while still being controlled by an even higher power. The people in New Spain greatly enjoyed this way of life, because it meant that the institutional authorities were flexible and easy to manipulate. Social statuses were defined by many different characteristics which include limpieza de sangre, calidad, occupation, cultural practices, skin color and gender. People could also move up the social latter by being good Christians and living a good life. For example, in the case of Esperanza, she reached her goal of becoming a nun by being a great Christian who always was trying to help others. This was extremely rare considering that slaves could not become nuns. Slaves were not able join any religious order because “non-Spaniards did not meet the requirements of limpieza de sangre, or the purity of blood that was necessary for men and women taking religious orders” (Button 25).Even though protection wasn’t really offered to slaves through the institutional authorities, the fact that Mexico was considered an autonomy greatly made up for any lack of protection that the institutional authorities did not provide. Autonomy game slaves hope for the future. It meant that everyone had an equal chance to move up in society.
This resources show that the layers of institutional authority in colonial Mexico were powerful yet ineffective. Institutional authorities did not really provide any support for slaves and cared very little for them. Slaves were left unprotected because of this and turned to other alternative