1. Spain’s American Empire

2. I. Ruling The Empire
A. With the wealth gained from its conquest of the Aztecs and Incas, Spain was able to finance more explorations and settlements.

3. B. Spain divided its empire into two.
1. Peru - the southern part made up of Spain’s claim in South America.
2.New Spain - the northern part which consisted of all the land north of South America

4. C. Spain put a governing official called a VICEROY in charge of each part of its empire

5. 1. The main responsibility of the viceroy was to produce wealth for Spain.
2. This was easy at first because of new, rich deposits of silver.
a. Cotton, sugarcane, and other crops grown on plantations were also shipped to Spain.

6. III. Three Kinds of Settlements
A. Spanish law called for 3 types of settlements: Pueblos, Missions, and Presidios.
B. Pueblos - towns established as centers of trade.
1. Built around a central square that included a church and government buildings.

7. C. Missions - religious communities that include a small town, farmland, and a church.
1. Started by Catholic religious workers.

8. 2. Life centered around the church
2. Life centered around the church. Priests taught Native Americans about the Roman Catholic religion.

9. D. Presidio - fort built near a mission
1. Spanish soldiers lived here and protected the missions.

10. III. Social Classes in New Spain
A. Position was determined mostly by birth.
B. Peninsulares
1. People born in Spain who had the highest positions in Spanish colonial society

11. 2. Held the best jobs, owned much of the land, and controlled the wealth and power.

12. C. Creoles (Criollos) 1. Below the Peninsulares on the social ladder.
2. Had Spanish parents, but had been born in New Spain.
3. Still held important positions in the government, church, army, and business

13. D. Mestizos 1. People of mixed Spanish and Native American descent.
2. Greatly outnumbered peninsulares and creoles.
3. Worked on farms and ranches, carpenters, bakers, and soldiers

14. E. Native Americans 1. The largest group of people.
2. Forced to work in mines and on plantations under cruel conditions.
3. Paid so little that they had to borrow money from landowners just to buy food.