During the late 18th century and early 19th century, Mexico, or as it was previously named, New Spain, had an estimated population of over 7.5 million people of different ethnicities and countries. These people were divided into a caste system consisting of four major groups. At the top of the spectrum were the Peninsulares. Peninsulares were Spanish men who resided in the New World. Under them were the Crioles. A Criole was a person whom was of full Spanish decent, but was born in New Spain. The third group was the Mestizos. This term was used to describe a person that who had a Spanish parent and a native parent. At the bottom of the system were the Mulatos, who were decedents of a Spaniard and an African. 

Like many other countries in Latin America during this period, the Spanish crown granted ecomienda’s to several individuals who had served the crown. If one was givin an ecomienda, they would have the right to forced labour of the natives. Although it was not technically slavery because of the laws set in Spain, the Indians worked in similar conditions as slaves.