Exam 28: From Conquest to Colonies in Hispanic America

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The term "criollos" refers to a social class that was prominent in the colonial social hierarchy in Spanish America and the Spanish Philippines. Criollos were locally born people of pure or mostly Spanish ancestry. In the context of the Spanish Empire, they were distinguished from the peninsulares, who were Spaniards born in Spain (the Iberian Peninsula), and from the indigenous peoples, Africans, and people of mixed ancestry.

During the colonial period, criollos were often well-off, owning land and having political influence, but they were typically ranked below the peninsulares in the social hierarchy. This distinction led to tensions and contributed to the independence movements in the 19th century, as criollos played a significant role in the fight for independence from Spain in various Latin American countries.

After independence, the term continued to be used, but its meaning evolved to refer more broadly to people of European descent or to the culture that emerged from the blending of European and local traditions in the former Spanish colonies.

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The term "cabildos" refers to a form of local government that was established during the Spanish colonial period in Latin America and the Philippines. Cabildos were municipal councils responsible for the administration of towns and cities, and they played a significant role in the governance of Spanish colonies.

Cabildos were composed of local elites, including landowners and influential members of the community, who were either elected or appointed to their positions. These councils had various responsibilities, such as maintaining order, regulating markets, overseeing public works, and administering justice at the local level. They also had the authority to collect certain taxes and to make decisions regarding the welfare of the community.

The influence and power of cabildos varied depending on the size and importance of the town or city they governed. In some cases, they acted with a high degree of autonomy, while in others, they were more closely regulated by the higher colonial authorities.

Over time, as the Spanish colonial empire weakened, cabildos became centers of local power and sometimes played a role in the movements for independence that swept across Latin America in the early 19th century. After independence, many of the functions and structures of the cabildos were incorporated into the new republican forms of government, although the institution itself largely disappeared.

In summary, cabildos were municipal councils that played a key role in the administration and governance of Spanish colonial towns and cities, and they contributed to the historical development of local government in Latin America and the Philippines.