Creoles Lead Latin America Independence

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New Spain and its social hierarchy existed for several centuries in the Latin American colonies. However, at the beginning of the 19th century, widespread revolution broke out. In a span of just two decades, almost all of what had once been New Spain became independent from European rule. Although all the social classes except the peninsulares were involved, the Creoles took the leading role in the fight for freedom. The Creoles led the revolutions in Latin America because of a desire for political power, nationalism, and economic conditions. Political power was a huge motivator for the Creoles. As the second highest class in the New World, "The Creoles had growing economic and social influence, but the peninsulares monopolized all administrative positions" (Doc B). Even though Creoles composed a much larger percentage of the population than did peninsulares, only 12 Creoles were judges, compared to 87 peninsulares. The Creoles possessed some power, but real authority remained tantalizingly out of reach, residing only in the hands of the peninsulares. The peninsulares' power over all other Latin Americans was an important source of frustration for each social class, but it was especially infuriating to Creoles, since many of them were educated in Europe and well-versed in Enlightenment thinking. They believed in the democratic ideals of fair representation and equality, values that conflicted with the very foundation of the hierarchical Spanish colonial system. Just as those Enlightenment ideas had led the bourgeoisie to revolt in Europe during the French Revolution, they caused the Creoles to revolt in New Spain during the Latin American revolutions. However, at the same time, the Creoles were also motivated by power in a way that was much less reflective of Enlightenment values of equality. While Creoles desired to overthrow the peninsulares to gain political

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