The constant interaction between the Spanish and the local people of Chile led to the new population of mestizos, the blend of Spanish and Indian bloodlines.[i] The mestizo, however, held a special position in the class system because they were higher than Indians, but lower than the wealthy Spanish class. In some ways, the mestizo were like the bourgeoisie, the middle class. Job opportunities for the mestizo were still limited and many became Spanish servants in order to become part of the Spanish civilization. There was also troubles in inheritance. Few mestizo were illegitimate to inherit land, but if there was no true Spanish heir, the mestizo could control the land even though they did not officially own it.[ii] The Mestizo were not completely accepted in society as Indians did not befriend the mestizo because they invaded territories like the arrogant Spanish conquistadors. On the other hand, the Spanish did not hesitate to express their superiority over the mestizo. Another ethnicity that began to spread in Chile for the first time was the bloodline of the Creoles. Creoles were native-born people of European decent. Moreover, the population of Chile consisted of Italians, Germans, European Jews, and Palestinians fleeting the Ottoman Empire.[iii] Spanish dominated as the main language of Chile as well as the Roman Catholic religion.[iv] The church was also in charge of education in Chile and reinforced the distinctive class systems. In the 18th century, the Spanish built schools in Santiago, and its courses attracted many people. Intellectual life wasn’t popular among Chileans for the printing press did not reached Chile until the 19th century.[v] Furthermore, the Spanish not only brought along their agricultural culture, but also promoted an industrial approach to the economy.[vi] Spain also regulated political and economic rules thorough labor laws, monopoly grants, trade, and taxes. Spain brutally took away land from the native tribes. Spain controlled the mines and forced the native people to extract gold and silver for their owners.[vii] The economy of Chile depended on forced labor and slavery as the native people worked in the fields under harsh conditions without wages. It was not until the 18th century that wages were common. [viii] The Spanish religion and linguistics influenced Chile, and Spain created political and economic rules to govern the people.
[i] Truman, The Construction and Function of Race: Creating the Mestizo, http://www2.truman.edu/~marc/webpages/andean2k/conquest/mestizo.html.
[ii] Ibid.
[iii] Hudson, Rex A. Chile: A Country Study. Washington D.C.: Federal Research Division, 1994.
[iv] ibid
[v] Encyclopædia Britannica Online, s. v. "Chile," accessed March 01, 2012, http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/111326/Chile.
[vi] Hudson, Rex A. Chile: A Country Study. Washington D.C.: Federal Research Division, 1994.
[vii] Ibid
[viii] Ibid
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