Final answer:
Spanish control in Latin America was driven by the quest for natural resources, strategic trade routes, and spreading Catholicism. Society was structured on racial and birthplace lines. Creoles led independence movements beginning in the early 19th century, primarily motivated by a desire for political and economic control.
Step-by-step explanation:
The colonial period of Latin America began with Spanish conquest during the 15th and 16th centuries. The Spanish sought control due to the region's rich natural resources, strategic location for trade routes, and mission to spread Catholicism. Society in Latin America during this period was organized into a social hierarchy, with Spanish-born individuals (peninsulares) at the top, Creoles (those of pure Spanish descent but born in the Americas) below them, and the indigenous peoples, Africans, and those of mixed descent at the bottom.
The Independence movements in Latin America began in the early 19th century, with sparks first igniting in 1808 when Napoleon installed his brother on the Spanish throne, setting off a chain of events across Spanish colonies. The revolutions started in areas such as Venezuela, Mexico, and Argentina. Creoles led the fight for independence due to their desire for political and economic control that their birth prevented them from having under Spanish rule.
Learn more about Latin American Independence Movements