Final answer:
The peninsulares were concerned about the status of creoles in Latin American society due to the threat they posed to their social and political dominance and feared that social mobility among mixed-race populations could undermine their privileged positions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The peninsulares', or Spaniards born in Spain, concern over the status of the creoles in Latin American society was rooted in the rigid social hierarchy that developed during colonial times. Peninsulares enjoyed the highest social status and privileged access to administrative and clerical positions, harboring fears that social mobility among the creoles and mixed-race populations could challenge their dominance. The creoles, despite being of Spanish descent but born in the Americas, were typically excluded from these top positions, which led to discontent and eventually fuelled movements for independence.
With the spread of Enlightenment ideas, the creoles began to question the legitimacy of the peninsulares' power and demanded more rights and participation in governance. This period also saw the American military reformed, which allowed creoles to serve, yet still excluded them from the highest positions, intensifying their aspirations for autonomy. As a result, when Spain was weakened during the Napoleonic Wars, the educated creoles leveraged their newfound ideologies and the opportunity to rebel and seek independence. The fear of losing power, status, and control over the colonies to creoles and other mixed-race populations was a central concern for the peninsulares.