LA VECINDAD EN LA AMÉRICA HISPANA. SU AFIRMACIÓN EN EL DISCURSO LITERARIO DEL S. XVII.

At the beginning of the Hispanic colonization in America, the system of identification of the people who belonged to a community conditioned the acquisition of the advantageous status of "neighbour" to a legal process. This allowed all the members of the community - no matter their ancestors - to have access to that status. In the XVII century this system was replaced by one in which the candidate's acceptance depended on his behaviour and social condition. This led to the exclusion of many native born members. The fact that both, the Creole and the American land identity were underestimated, and the fact that the Spanish were chosen for local administration posts over the Americans, led to a fight for the Creole rights which is reflected in the discourse. The literate members of the American communities used their writings to position themselves socially. The use of a series of strategies in the written work of these Creole authors allows the reading of a proof of vicinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]