Enlightenment and Revolutions Practice Test 2026 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Peninsulares were the group born in Europe who held the highest offices. In colonial Latin America, power sat at the top of a hierarchy that gave the Crown tight control over the colonies. Those born in the Iberian Peninsula were favored for the most important positions in government and the church—appointments as viceroys, high court officials, and bishops—because they were seen as loyal to the Crown and less likely to challenge it. People of European descent born in the Americas (Creoles) could amass wealth and local influence, but the top governmental and ecclesiastical roles were reserved for Peninsulares. Mestizos and Mulattos, individuals of mixed heritage, faced significant legal and social barriers and thus seldom reached the highest offices.