INDENDENCIA
DE MEXICO
NICOLE CASTAÑEDA LENGUAEXTRANJERA
What was the independence of Mexico?
The independence of Mexico was the process by which the territory of New Spain separated
from the Spanish Empire. It began on September 16, 1810 with the Grit de Dolores and
culminated on September 27, 1821 with the entry of the Trigarante Army into Mexico City and
the signing of the Act of Independence. After this, Mexico was first an empire under Agustín de
Iturbide, but in 1824 it became a republic with the approval of a federal Constitution .
WHAT WERE ITS CAUSES?
Social inequality and the caste system. During the colonial era in Mexico, the indigenous
population lived in poverty and was subjected to harsh economic exploitation, which is why
various indigenous rebellions took place from the 17th century onwards. The indigenous people
formed the basis of the caste system, along with other groups who also suffered exploitation,
such as Africans or Afro-descendants, and those descended from different ethnic groups. The
mestizos themselves (descendants of a Spaniard and an indigenous woman) were also
differentiated from the “whites” (Spaniards and Creoles), since they did not have the same
privileges. This system caused deep social discontent.
INTERNAL CAUSES
Creole patriotism. Another sector that was dissatisfied with the colonial regime were
the Creoles, descendants of Spaniards but born in America. Although they used to
have great economic power thanks to their trade, they developed a feeling of
belonging to the viceroyalty over the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, their interests
were often harmed by the economic decisions taken by the Spanish Crown, which
imposed limitations on free trade..
INTERNAL CAUSES
The Bourbon Reforms. In the mid-18th century, the Spanish monarchy began to
implement a series of reforms in the administration of the colonial territories in
America with the aim of increasing the exploitation of their resources. This involved
greater control by the authorities of the peninsula over the institutions of the
Viceroyalty of New Spain, the exclusion of Creoles from administrative positions and an
increase in taxes. All of this caused unrest among the Creoles .
WHO PARTICIPATED?
THE WAR
Mexico's war of independence began with the "Grito de Dolores" on the morning of
September 16, 1810, when the priest Miguel Hidalgo called on his parishioners to
rise up against Spanish rule, ringing the bells of his parish in the town of Dolores.
This act occurred after the "Conspiracy of Querétaro" was discovered, a plan to
form a government of its own, marking the beginning of the insurrection.
STAGE 1 OF THE WAR
In the first stage of the struggle, the insurgent forces were disorganized and had
diverse objectives: some sought independence, others greater autonomy under
King Ferdinand VII, and the popular sectors demanded social improvements such as
the distribution of land. This stage ended shortly before the execution of Hidalgo by
the royalists on July 30, 1811.
STEP 2
From *1811, after the death of **Hidalgo, the insurgent forces reorganized and were
clearly focused on the **independence of Mexico. **José María Morelos* assumed
leadership and, in *1813, delivered the speech **Sentiments of the Nation*, which
proposed independence, equality and a government with popular sovereignty.
Morelos led a series of *military triumphs* that achieved control of central and
southern Mexico. However, his troops faced defeats and Morelos was finally
captured and executed on December 22, 1815
STEP 3
After the assassination of Morelos, the insurgents became disorganized and their
military activities dispersed in a kind of guerrilla warfare. Spanish forces weakened
the insurgents, who in many cases accepted pardons offered by the authorities to
convince them to abandon the fight. Fighting continued only in the south. However,
in this stage, figures such as the insurgent Vicente Guerrero and the Spanish soldier
Francisco Javier Mina stood out, who collaborated with the independence cause at
the head of an expedition that seriously threatened the royalists but was finally
defeated. Mina was shot in November 1817.
STEP 4
The fourth stage of the war of independence culminated in the triumph of the
independence fighters in 1821. Events in Spain influenced this outcome: after the return
of Ferdinand VII to the throne in 1813 and the annulment of the Constitution of Cadiz, an
absolutist regime was established. However, in 1820, a liberal government forced the
reestablishment of the constitution, harming the interests of the clergy and aristocracy of
New Spain, who began to support independence. The revolution quickly gained strength
and in a few months achieved success. Agustín de Iturbide, who until then had been on
the royalist side, made a pact with insurgent leaders such as Vicente Guerrero. This made
it possible to unite insurgents and former royalists in the Trigarante Armyto execute the
Plan of Iguala of 1821, whose main objective was the independence of Mexico.
TERM
As the Trigarante Army gained ground, Juan O'Donojú, superior political chief of New
Spain, signed the Treaties of Córdoba with Iturbide, agreeing to the withdrawal of
Spanish troops and the recognition of Mexico's independence. Although the Spanish
monarchy did not recognize these treaties, on September 27, 1821, the Trigarante
Army entered Mexico City without resistance, consummating independence. On
September 28, 1821, the act of independence from the Mexican Empire was signed.
Later, a Congress named Iturbide as emperor of Mexico, crowned as Agustín I
Madero on July 21, 1822. However, Spain did not recognize Mexico's independence
until 1836
