1. What sort of societies did the Spanish and Portuguese find when they came to the New World? How were they able to defeat these communities?

2. Both Spanish and Portuguese social structures were highly stratified—a hierarchical system they perpetuated in their colonies. Describe the way in which the Spanish Crown interacted with the conquerors and the other social classes which emerged in the colonies. Why do you suppose the Spanish Crown seemingly encouraged dissent and rivalry amongst the elites in Spanish America?

3. Independence in Portuguese America (mainly Brazil) came a lot easier to the locals than independence of the Spanish colonies. What were some of the differences between the two sets of colonies that caused this outcome?

4. The wars of independence in Spanish America created a very powerful class of military elites. In the post-independence era, how and why did this class become a political power?

Category: Essays