In Mexico, the group of people who controlled the government were called the . The had positions of wealth and influence in society. The revolution for independence from Spain was started by a priest named . Agustin de Iturbide declared Mexico independent and established a . He was overthrown just a year later.

The peninsulares were people born in Spain who held the highest government positions in colonial Mexico. Criollos, who were of Spanish ancestry but born in the Americas, could be wealthy and influential but had less political power. So the group that controlled the government was the peninsulares.

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