Social Hierarchy in Latin America

Native Americans, Africans & Mulattos

At the bottom of the colonial social pyramid

Creoles

Controlled most of the land and business

2nd class

Creoles (European descended Latin America)

Peninsulares

Held all important military and political positions

3rd class

Mestizos- mixed blood (Europeans & Native Americans)

4th class

Mulattos- mixed blood (Europeans & Africans)

5th class

Native Indians and African slaves

1st class

Peninsulares (European born)

What was the social hierarchy based on?

Skin race

Mestizos

They were discriminated by the ruling white classes and faced social and racial barriers