por Social inequality in New Spain was reflected in the distribution of the different social groups established in the viceroyalty. The basis of this inequality was the origin of the citizens: at the top were the peninsular Spaniards, and below them were the Creoles, who grew in number.
At the base of the social pyramid were the indigenous and enslaved blacks. The mestizos were situated between criollos and indians, although certainly in the lower ranks. In addition to this ethnic division, there were also very important power groups that dominated society.
For example, the Church had great influence and also owned large tracts of land. Other guilds that achieved notoriety were merchants, artisans, and those responsible for the mines. These groups were called corporations and the legal rights that they acquired through their power were called fueros.
At the other extreme were the hacienda workers, a very common system of land and labor distribution in New Spain. Indians and other peasants were more like feudal serfs than other types of employment relationship.
Social inequality in New Spain: historical and social context
During the 17th century, New Spain became the jewel in the Spanish crown. The wealth it provided was increasing thanks to mining activity and trade. This generated an increase in population, as well as a great growth of cities.
In order not to lose control of the colony, Spain promoted a great social hierarchy, favoring the Spanish. This produced great discomfort among those who were left outside the privileged circles.
Main social classes by origin and occupation
peninsular Spaniards
The highest layer of society was made up of Spaniards from the peninsula. They were the least numerous, but the only ones who could hold the most responsible positions.
They not only held civil command posts, but also ecclesiastical ones. Little by little, this situation began to generate great resentment among other estates.
Creole
The second place was occupied by the criollos, descendants of Spaniards, but born in America. These began to grow a lot in number, but they could not qualify for positions of power.
However, their economic situation improved substantially during the 17th and 18th centuries, as they began to own many haciendas or mining concessions. The contradiction between the economic and social position and their political marginalization made them feel strong enough to ask for the same rights as the peninsulars.
They held intermediate positions in public administrations or in the Church, and that meant a certain political power.
Part of these Creole groups were influenced by the ideas of the Enlightenment, and therefore it was not surprising that they were the leaders of the independence movement a few years later.
Natives
Legal recognitions, promoted by orders such as the Jesuits, did not entail any type of social advantage for the indigenous people. Beyond being recognized as a community and having a special court, they were the most disadvantaged.
They were forced to pay tribute to the government and their work on the haciendas was the hardest and without any labor rights. They could barely get enough to survive and some ended up migrating to the city, where their situation did not improve either. They made up more than 60% of the population.
mestizos or castes
The mestizos, or castas, were those born of the different racial combinations. They became a very large group, exceeding 20% of the population.
The lack of rights (less, even than the indigenous) led to their being protagonists of different political movements.
Church
Owner of much of the arable land, and with numerous social and economic privileges, the Catholic Church was one of the most important actors in New Spain.
The highest positions could only be reached by Spaniards. After the Bourbon reforms, the crown took away part of its power.
Situation in the cities
At the end of the 17th century there had been a strong increase in population in the cities, since the rural situation had become very harsh. Emigration to the city caused the appearance of street commerce and other trades, but also an increase in crime.
In general, the less favored groups ended up living almost worse than in the countryside and this gradually gave rise to rebellions in search of social improvements. Throughout the century there were revolts by indigenous people, blacks (taken as slaves) and castas.
situation in the field
The most common way in which rural possessions were divided were haciendas. Many of these belonged to the Church and large landowners.
Most of the workers were indigenous, in working conditions close to feudalism. Furthermore, after the expulsion of the Jesuits, these conditions became even worse.
During the 18th century, the countryside experienced a crisis situation, with famines that affected the poor the most. This generated the exodus to the cities.
Corporations and charters
Social inequality also manifested itself depending on whether one was a member of a corporation or not.
corporations
They were the guilds made up of people who shared interests. Among the civil corporations, the most important were the consulate of merchants, the councils or the guilds of artisans. Most of the time, those in charge were Spaniards appointed by the king.
Religious orders and clergy also formed their own corporations, encompassing educational institutions.
Fueros
The fueros were the rights (especially moral, but also economic and political) that these groups had by their very nature.
The recognition of such fueros reinforced the inequalities in New Spain, since there were different laws depending on whether they had fueros or not. This caused the influence of corporations to increase during the 17th century, until the Bourbons tried to reduce it.
18th century reforms
The new Spanish king, Carlos III, tried to apply a series of reforms to end the powers of privileged groups in New Spain.
Known for his most advanced ideas, he sought to modernize justice and reduce the power of corporations, the Church, and large landowners.
This caused great discomfort among those affected. For example, the merchants of Mexico City lost the monopoly of the ports, which caused great protests.
The Church also saw its power and wealth reduced, suffering the alienation of the assets it possessed. The reaction was quite violent.
Finally, the reforms generated an anti-Spanish breeding ground in the upper classes, which would eventually produce the first skirmishes for independence, and then the definitive emancipation. ANDhe malaise of the Creoles was the trigger for independence.
References
Bourbon reforms in New Spain. Retrieved from es.wikipedia.org.
The Bourbon Reforms. Retrieved from gettysburg.edu.