1. Government: The Spanish colonies were divided into large provinces, called viceroyalties. Each was administered by a viceroy appointed by the king. As the king's personal representative, the viceroy exercised complete power. He carried out the laws enacted by the Council of the Indies in Spain, collected taxes, controlled the finances, and was responsible for the welfare of the Indians. The people had little voice in the government.
2. Commercial Regulation: Spain strictly supervised the commercial life of its colonies. Mining and agriculture were encouraged, but the production of goods that would compete with Spanish manufactures was prohibited. Also, the colonists were permitted to trade only with the mother country.
3. People of Spanish America: Only Spanish Catholics were permitted to immigrate to the colonies.
The mestizos, people of mixed Spanish and Indian parentage. They functioned as laborers, small farmers, artisans, and trades people. At the bottom of the social scale were the Indians and blacks. Both groups served as slaves in the plantations and mines.
4. Treatment of the Indians: The king decreed that Indians should be treated in humane manner, but this order was generally disobeyed. In practice, the Indians were ill-treated and abused by the colonists.