key term - Criollos

Definition

Criollos were individuals of Spanish descent born in the Americas during the colonial period. They played a vital role in the independence movements across Spanish America, as they sought to challenge the social hierarchy that placed peninsulares, or those born in Spain, at the top. As educated and often wealthy landowners, criollos became leaders in the quest for independence, advocating for greater political power and autonomy from colonial rule.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Criollos formed a significant segment of the population in Spanish America, numbering in the millions by the late 18th century.
2. The Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and self-determination greatly influenced criollos, who were inspired by the American and French Revolutions.
3. Leading figures among the criollos included military generals like Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín, who became instrumental in their respective countries' independence.
4. Although criollos sought independence from Spain, they often aimed to maintain their own social status and power within the newly formed nations.
5. The tensions between criollos and peninsulares contributed to growing unrest and eventually sparked the broader independence movements across Spanish America.

Review Questions

• How did criollos contribute to the independence movements in Spanish America?
  • Criollos were crucial to the independence movements as they provided leadership and organization. Many criollos were educated elites who understood Enlightenment principles and were frustrated by their exclusion from political power due to the dominance of peninsulares. They mobilized support among other social classes and utilized their resources to challenge colonial rule, forming revolutionary groups and participating in military campaigns for independence.
• In what ways did the social status of criollos affect their motivations for seeking independence from Spain?
  • Criollos' motivations for seeking independence were deeply intertwined with their social status. While they aspired for political autonomy and freedom from Spanish rule, many criollos also sought to elevate their own position within society. By breaking away from Spain, they aimed to dismantle a social hierarchy that favored peninsulares, thus securing greater political influence for themselves. This blend of personal ambition and broader aspirations for national autonomy made them key players in the fight for independence.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of criollo leadership in the post-independence period of Spanish America.
  • The leadership of criollos in post-independence Spanish America had significant long-term implications for the region's political landscape. While they achieved their goal of independence from Spain, many criollo leaders struggled to create stable governments that represented all social classes. Their focus on maintaining their own power often led to ongoing class divisions, contributing to social unrest and political instability. The resulting tensions between different groups, including mestizos and indigenous peoples, shaped the trajectory of nation-building efforts and democratic development throughout Latin America.

Related terms

peninsulares: Peninsulares were individuals born in Spain who resided in the colonies, holding higher social status and often occupying key political positions in colonial administration.

independence movements: Independence movements refer to the series of uprisings and revolutions throughout Spanish America in the early 19th century that aimed to overthrow colonial rule and establish independent nations.

mestizos:

Mestizos were individuals of mixed European and Indigenous ancestry, often occupying a middle social class and playing a significant role in the social dynamics of colonial Latin America.