Which of the following choices places Latin America's racial hierarchy in the proper order, from lowest to highest in status?
A. Mestizo/mulatto, Native American/African slave, Peninsular, Creole
B. Native American/African slave, mestizo/mulatto, Creole, Peninsular
C. Peninsular, Creole, mestizo/mulatto, Native American/African slave
D. Creole, mestizo/mulatto, Peninsular, Native American/African slave
E. Native American/African slave, Creole, mestizo/mulatto, Peninsular
Answer (3)
Peninsulare \tmember of the highest class in Spain's colonies in the Americas.
Creole \tin Spain's colonies in the Americas, an American-born descendent of Spanish settlers.
Mestizo\t in Spain's colonies in the Americas, a person of Native American and European descent.
Native American and African Slaves
Answer:
(C) Peninsular, Creole, mestizo/mulatto, Native American/African slave
The correct order of Latin America's racial hierarchy from lowest to highest in status is as follows: Native American/African slave, mestizo/mulatto, Creole, Peninsular. Therefore, the right answer is (B) Native American/African slave, mestizo/mulatto, Creole, Peninsular.
At the highest level were the peninsulares, Spaniards born in Spain, who controlled the colonial government and high ecclesiastical positions. Next were the Creoles, Spaniards born in the colonies, who held considerable economic power but were not typically in the highest government or ecclesiastical offices.
Beneath them were the mestizos, of mixed European and Native heritage, often serving in roles as artisans, low-ranking clergy, and farmers. The mulattos, with mixed European and African ancestry, found themselves in similar socioeconomic positions as mestizos. At the bottom of this hierarchy were the Native American/indigenous peoples and African slaves, who had the fewest rights and were subject to labor and tribute demands.
The social hierarchy in colonial Latin America was structured from lowest to highest as follows: Native American/African slaves, Mestizos/mulattos, Creoles, and Peninsulares. The correct answer to the student's question is option (B).
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