Mexico’s Independence Day is a vibrant celebration filled with pride, parades, and fiestas. But behind the festivities lies a history of a long and arduous fight for freedom. The journey to independence was not a swift event; it was a decade-long struggle against Spanish rule, marked by pivotal figures, shifting tides, and the unwavering spirit of a people yearning for self-determination.
The initial spark of rebellion ignited in 1810, largely thanks to the inspiring call to action by Miguel Hidalgo. As the priest from Dolores took up the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe, a powerful symbol for Mexicans, he galvanized a diverse populace. According to historian Albarrán, Hidalgo’s army was a massive, disorganized assembly, encompassing not only men but also women, children, the elderly, and even livestock. This untrained and unwieldy force, while initially large, ultimately faced defeat. Many of its members, primarily farmers, returned to their lands to tend to their harvests, marking a setback for the early independence movement.
The Spanish authorities and the Inquisition reacted harshly to Hidalgo’s uprising. Professor William Beezley notes that Hidalgo was defrocked by the Spanish Inquisition, stripping him of his priestly status. Further punishment came from the civil government, which beheaded him for leading the revolt. Adding insult to injury, his head was displayed in Guanajuato, a city where he and his army were accused of perpetrating a massacre, serving as a grim warning against further rebellion.
Despite the loss of Hidalgo, the flame of revolution was far from extinguished. José María Morelos, another priest, stepped forward to assume leadership. Learning from the mistakes of the first campaign, Morelos reorganized the rebel forces. He dismissed those who lacked weapons and horses, creating a more disciplined and effective army, as Beezley describes. Under Morelos, the independence movement regained momentum. However, like his predecessor, Morelos also met a tragic end. He too was captured, subjected to the Inquisition, and beheaded, plunging the struggle for Mexican independence into a chaotic period. Despite these setbacks, the weakening grip of Spanish rule over Mexico continued to be challenged.
The decisive turn in the fight for independence came in 1821 with the actions of Agustín de Iturbide. Initially a soldier supporting the Spanish crown, Iturbide made a dramatic shift, becoming a leading figure in the Mexican independence movement. He strategically marched troops into Mexico City, seizing control of the capital and effectively declaring Mexico’s independence. Iturbide solidified his position by proclaiming the Plan of Iguala, also known as the Plan of Three Guarantees. This plan outlined three key principles: Mexico’s liberation from Spanish control, the establishment of Roman Catholicism as the nation’s sole religion, and the guarantee of equality for all Mexican citizens.
Following the successful declaration of independence, Iturbide ascended to become the emperor of Mexico. He established a monarchy, reminiscent of European systems, and indulged in lavish expenditures, mirroring the fashion of Austrian royalty, which strained the fledgling nation’s finances. However, this imperial system proved unsustainable. Internal conflicts and power struggles among military leaders led to its collapse. Ultimately, Mexico transitioned to a democratic republic. Guadalupe Victoria, a veteran of the independence war, emerged as the first president of Mexico, ushering in a new era for the newly liberated nation.
Mexico’s Independence Day, therefore, commemorates not just a single day, but the culmination of a decade-long revolution. It’s a tribute to the sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering determination of those who fought for freedom, from the early calls of Hidalgo and Morelos to the strategic leadership of Iturbide and the establishment of the republic under Victoria. The path to independence was fraught with challenges, but it ultimately paved the way for the birth of a new nation.
