The quest for Mexico Independence began with a powerful cry for liberation. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, ignited the flames of revolution by issuing the Grito de Dolores on September 16, 1810. This pivotal moment, publicly proclaimed in the town of Dolores, was a revolutionary call to arms, urging an end to 300 years of Spanish dominion, advocating for land redistribution, and demanding racial equality in Mexico. Hidalgo’s impassioned appeal, resonating deeply with the marginalized, quickly amassed a formidable following of thousands of Indians and mestizos, who rallied under the banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe. This burgeoning peasant army then marched towards Mexico City, signaling the start of a long and arduous struggle for mexico independence.
The backdrop to this uprising was early 19th-century Europe, where Napoleon’s invasion of Spain created widespread instability. This European turmoil acted as a catalyst for revolts throughout Spanish America. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, now revered as “the father of mexico independence,” spearheaded the Mexican rebellion with his iconic “Cry of Dolores.” His populist movement gained significant momentum, nearly reaching the Mexican capital. Despite an initial surge, Hidalgo’s forces were ultimately defeated at the Battle of Calderón in January 1811. Hidalgo was captured and executed, but his dream of mexico independence did not die with him. Other passionate leaders emerged to continue the fight, including José María Morelos y Pavón, Mariano Matamoros, and Vicente Guerrero. They led diverse armies composed of native and racially mixed revolutionaries, persistently challenging Spanish rule and Royalist forces who sought to maintain the colonial status quo.
Ironically, mexico independence was ultimately achieved through an unexpected alliance. Mexican Royalists, initially defenders of Spanish rule, ironically became key players in the final push for liberation. These Royalists, primarily composed of Mexicans of Spanish descent and conservatives, shifted their stance when liberals gained power in Spain in 1820. The new Spanish government’s promise of reforms, intended to appease Mexican revolutionaries, had the opposite effect on the conservatives in Mexico. Fearing these reforms would erode their privileged position in Mexican society, they instead opted for mexico independence as a means to preserve their established power and status.
In a dramatic turn of events in early 1821, Agustín de Iturbide, the commander of the Royalist army, forged a strategic alliance with Vicente Guerrero, a prominent revolutionary leader. Together, they crafted the Plan of Iguala. This plan laid out a blueprint for mexico independence, envisioning Mexico as an independent constitutional monarchy. It also controversially proposed to maintain the Catholic Church’s powerful position and ensure equality between Mexicans of Spanish descent and Spaniards, while offering fewer rights to those of mixed or indigenous heritage. Iturbide successfully defeated the remaining Royalist resistance. The Spanish Viceroy, Juan de O’Donojú, facing dwindling resources and support, had no choice but to concede. The Treaty of Córdoba was signed on August 24, 1821, officially recognizing mexico independence and outlining a plan for a new constitutional monarchy. In 1822, with no European monarch secured for the Mexican throne, Iturbide himself was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico. However, his reign was short-lived. By 1823, republican leaders Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria deposed Iturbide, ushering in a new era as they established a republic, with Guadalupe Victoria becoming the first president of an independent Mexico, finally realizing the long-fought dream of mexico independence.
