THE HISTORY OF MEXICO

After the conquest, Spanish and American Indian peoples and cultures mixed to make a new Mexican identify. Spaniards called the people mestizos. They also called people of mixed European and African ancestry mulattoes. 

    A goal of the Spaniards was converting they population, mostly American Indians, into Catholicism. They had Catholic priests at missions scattered around Mexico to help with this. They also taught Indians Spanish.

    In addition to spreading Christianity, Spaniards wanted gold and silver. Mining became a big part of economy. Like mining, agriculture became a important part of Mexico's economy. Haciendas were granted to families favored by the government. Peasants, mostly Indians, worked and lived on the haciendas.