Advanced Placement (AP) World History Practice Exam 2025 - Free AP World History Practice Questions and Study Guide

The term that refers to individuals of mixed European and black descent in the Caribbean is "mulattoes." This classification emerged during the colonial period and reflects the complex racial and cultural intermingling that occurred due to the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism. Mulattoes played significant roles in the social and economic landscapes of Caribbean societies, often occupying a unique status between the European colonizers and enslaved Africans, which influenced their rights, social status, and cultural identity.

The other terms provided are associated with different racial and ethnic identities. Mestizos typically refer to people of mixed European and Indigenous American descent, primarily in Latin America. Creoles may refer to individuals of European descent born in the colonies, or in some contexts, of mixed-race ancestry, but this term varies based on geographical and historical contexts. Patois refers to a dialect or language that has evolved from a mixture of different languages, not to a racial or ethnic group. Understanding these distinctions is crucial in the context of Caribbean history and identity.