Why would people in this community resent Esperanza's family?

The Mexican Revolution was was a war against the elitist and oligarchical policies of the government. Esperanza's family were wealthy landowners, thus, they were a part of the elite class. Their wealth and land ownership were resented..... the community wanted a chance to better themselves.

"Change has not come fast enough, Esperanza. The wealthy still own most of the land while some of the poor have not even a garden plot. There are cattle grazing on the big ranches yet some peasants are forced to eat cats."