This was just one more way the church used religion to influence politics by hunting down anyone who was, by the churches definition, a heretic. They also censored material that went against the divine right of the crown, better known as the God given right of the king to rule and enforced morality to ensure the power of the crown and its ability to promote the church itself. Next to religion, social status was another key aspect of colonial life in Mexico.
Social status played a large part of day-to-day life in Colonial Mexico. Citizen's class was determined by their parents and birth. The Spanish saw themselves as better than the natives and built their new society around that idea, making sure that they were among the richest and most powerful. The Peninsulares were colonists born in Spain to Spanish parents. These prominent citizens were the highest class and were given roles in the government, churches, army, universities, and missions. Their positions allowed them to have the most affect over the politics and religious aspects of colonial life. .
There were also the Crillos, who were born in the Americas but were still of Spanish lineage. These colonists were considered not the highest class citizens, but they still held prominent positions in society such as musicians, doctors, teachers, and lawyers. They were still able to gain titles of nobility and typically able to obtain the best money could buy. The Mestizos were Mexican born citizens of mixed nationality, with one parent being Native American and the other being of Spanish descent. They were considered to be lower class citizens and worked as merchants and craftsmen. The Indians were treated as little more than laborers, however, according to the article, some of the Indian nobles were given prestige, made exempt from tribute, and some even joined the Spanish to exploit their own people ("Lecture 4: Political, Economic and Social Life in New Spain").
