The term identifies individuals born in the Americas of European ancestry. These populations held a significant social and political position within the colonial hierarchies of the Americas. A notable example includes the leaders of independence movements in Latin America, often descended from Spanish settlers but born on American soil.
Their role is crucial for understanding the dynamics of colonial societies and the subsequent independence movements. Possessing economic and social power, these people resented policies implemented by European powers that favored peninsulares, leading to a desire for self-governance and the dismantling of colonial rule. This desire fueled independence movements and significantly shaped the political landscape of the newly formed nations.
