What was life like in Colonial Latin America? Step 1 – study the following documents and illustrations Step 2 – answer document analysis questions Step 3 – write a 2 paragraph summary that answers this question: What was life like in Colonial Latin America?

Spain and Portugal claimed land and settled in Latin America. Hints: Spanish territory is in light grey, Portuguese territory is dark grey. Spain had more territory than Portugal. France also claimed small amounts of land, including Haiti. (1780)

In Latin America, the Spanish enforced a strict system of social classes. Hints: The groups at the top had the most power (Peninsulares). Creoles had less power, so they didn’t like the Peninsulares. People of mixed heritage were below the Creoles. Africans and natives had little or no power.

Natives and Africans were forced into slavery by the Spanish. Slaves were punished or killed if they didn’t cooperate or do their job. The labor the slaves had to perform was grueling and they worked very long days. These slaves are in chains so they can’t escape.