Final answer:
The caste system in early 19th-century Spain's American colonies caused deep class resentments, contributing to the social unrest that led to revolutions and the eventual independence of Latin America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The caste system used in Spain's American colonies in the early 19th century contributed to revolutions in those colonies because it created deep resentments between the lower and upper classes. The stratified social structure, which relegated creoles, mestizos, mulattos, and indigenous peoples to lower statuses compared to the European-born peninsulares, fueled dissatisfaction among these groups. As Enlightenment ideas spread, tensions escalated over the lack of political and economic participation afforded to the non-peninsulares, culminating in revolutionary movements and the eventual independence of Latin America.