War of independence of Mexico

The war of independence of Mexico (1810 - 1821), carried out mainly by Spanish born in America (Creole S), began like a revolt from the Mexican Paysan S against their colonial Masters to be completed by liberal independence and an alliance against nature between and preserving.

The first test of independence was directed para the proper son of Hernán the Cortes, Martín the Cortes, which entêta in 1563 a movement fomented by the restive Conquistadors to tolerate the interference of the Spanish Crown in the government of the conquered grounds. Another faulty test begins in December 1650 when an Irishman William Lamport (or Guillen de Lampart) escapes from the jails of the Inquisition and sticks his proclamation of independence on the walls of the city. It was not only about the first proclamation of independence of the world but also of the first promise of a democratic monarchy, of equality of the races and Land reform. Lamport wanted that Mexico separates from Spain as well as the separation of the Church and the State, that it would direct as a king or an emperor. That was not to be, Lamport quickly was taken again and led to roughing-hew under the charge of heresy. Mexico had to await two centuries its independence.

Miguel Hidalgo and beginnings of the independence movement

The historical figure and the instigator of the movement of Mexican independence were Miguel Hidalgo there Costilla, priest Créole of the Paroisse of the small town of Dolores. As soon as after its accession with the priesthood it starts to promote the idea of a rising of the indigenous peasants and blood mixed against the rich person Spanish landowners and the Aristocrate S. It realized of the needs for diversification of the industrial activity in an area where the mines of Guanajuato were the principal activity. During its seven years with Dolores, Hidalgo encourages newsgroups in its residence, where Amerindian S , creole Métis and S was all welcome. The topics of these meetings were events of the daily newspaper to which Hidalgo added its own socio-economic reflections. The independence movement was born from these abstract discussions and directed against the political and economic Spanish domination of the life in News-Spain. The December 8th 1810 mark the beginning of rising.

Beginning of the war

The plans of the conspirators were known government, the revolutionists were informed by Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, famous the Corregidora , wife of the Magistrate of Querétaro that their arrest had been ordered. This revelation pushes Hidalgo, the September 16th 1810, with launching the insurrection without delay (this date is celebrated like day of independence in Mexico). The bells of the church called the population and Hidalgo required of them to join its fight against the Spanish government by the famous Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores): " ¡ Viva Virgen de Guadalupe! ¡ Viva Fernando VII! ¡ Abajo el badly gobierno! " (Lives Notre-Dame de Guadalupe! Live Fernando VII! With bottom the bad government!) Crowd answered with enthusiasm and soon it went on the regional capital of Guanajuato. The minors of Guanajuato united with the indigenous workers of Dolores in the massacre of all the colonists who resisted to them, including the intendente (local representative of the government).

Since Guanajuato, the independence forces go on Mexico City, after having rejoined and taken Zacatecas, San Luis Potosí, and Valladolid. The October 30th 1810, they meet a sharp resistance to Monte of mow Cruces, and, in spite of their victory, the lost dash they miss the catch of Mexico City. After some additional victories the revolutionary forces go on north towards the Texas. But following the Battle of Calderon of the January 17th 1811, the Mexican insurrectionists are put in rout and it is in March of the same year as the Mexican rebellious principal leaders — Hidalgo, Allende, Juan Aldama, Jiménez and Abasolo — are taken in ambush and captive facts with Monclova (in the actual position of Coahuila). Hidalgo as a priest was judged by Holy Office of the Inquisition, recognized guilty heresy and of treason and was then condemned to death. The July 31st 1811, Hidalgo will be shot by a firing squad. Its decapitated body and its head exposed to Guanajuato as a warning with those which sedition could have tried.

Guadalupe Victoria and the guerilla

Of 1815 with 1821, the fight of independence is limited to movements of Guérilla isolated. Among these movements two men are distinguished, Guadalupe Victoria (of which the true name is Manuel Felix Fernández) with Puebla and Vicente Guerrero with Oaxaca, which both obtain allegiance and respect of their partisans. The Spanish Viceroy, however, having a presentiment of that the situation was under control, issued a general amnesty for very rebellious which would deposit the weapons.

After ten years of civil war, the death of its founders, at the beginning of 1820, the independence movement is at the point dead and close to collapse. The rebels face an important Spanish military resistance and with the apathy of the majority of the Creoles. The violent ones excess and the populist zeal of the armies of Hidalgo and Morelos reinforced fears of many Creoles who prefer a preserving Spanish government as long as a peaceful way towards independence cannot be found.

In what was supposed to be the last governmental offensive against the insurrectionists, in December 1820, the viceroy Juan Ruiz de Apodaca sends a force carried out by a creole royalist officer, Agustín de Iturbide, to fight the army of Guerrero with Oaxaca. Iturbide, a native of Valladolid, had acquired a reputation for the zeal with which he had persecuted the rebels of Hidalgo and Morelos at the time of the first battles of the independence fight. Iturbide was the personification of the creole preserving values, religious enthusiast and burning defender of the property rights and the social privileges; it was on the other hand opposed by the slowness of its advance and the weakness of its fortune.

Ferdinand VII of Spain

The forwarding of Iturbide with Oaxaca coincides with the Coup d'etat victorious against the new monarchy of Ferdinand VII in Spain. The leaders of the coup d'etat forced Ferdinand to sign the liberal Spanish constitution of 1812. When the news of this liberal charter reaches Mexico, Iturbide sees there at the same time a threat of the status quo and an opportunity for the Creoles of taking the control of Mexico. After an initial conflict with the forces of Guerrero, Iturbide changes camp and invites the rebellious leader with a meeting and to discuss the new principles of the fight of independence.

Then stationed in the town of Iguala, Iturbide proclaims three principles, or " garanties" , for the independence of Mexico: establishment of a national Religion, roman catholic; proclamation of the independence of Mexico; and social equality of all the ethnicities of the country. After having convinced its troops to accept these principles, they were promulgated the February 24th 1821, as a Plan of Iguala, Iturbide persuades then Guerrero to join its forces to his. A new army, the Army of the Three Guarantees is placed under the command of Iturbide so that the Plan of Iguala is carried out. The plan had a base so broad as it rained as well with the patriots as with the loyal supporters. The goal of independence and the protection of the Catholicism gathered all the factions.

Arrival of the new viceroy

the July 21st 1821, Juan O' Donojú arrives at Veracruz, it is the new Viceroy of News-Spain. He discovers that all the country, except for this city, Mexico City and Acapulco supports the Plan of Iguala and the general rebels Agustín de Iturbide.

The August 3rd 1821, O' Donojú invites Iturbide for a conference in a place of its choice, this last indicates the city of Córdaba. O' Donojú, accompanied by Colonel Antonio López de Santa Anna arrives there on August 23rd, the meeting takes place the next day. They manage an agreement and sign the Treaty of Córdaba based on the Plan of Iguala.

The Spanish military chiefs of the colony do not accept the independence of Mexico. Spanish troops occupy the places of Mexico City and Veracruz, the fort of San Carlos de Perote, and the castle of San Diego in Acapulco. They are besieged and all except Veracruz go. Francisco Novella is besieged in Mexico City by the army of the three guarantees, led by Vicente Guerrero and Nicolás Bravo. Novella accepted a suspension of hostilities. Colonel Santa Anna besieges the sergeant García Dávila with San Juan de Ulúa, Veracruz, but this last will go only four years later.

O' Donojú the USA of its influence for a withdrawal of the Spanish troops of the country with a minimum of bloodshed and a honourable rendering. It approved the promotion of Novella, the preceding viceroy by interim, with the rank of marshal of Spain. September 13rd 1821, O' Donojú meets Novella and Iturbide with the hacienda of Patera, close to Villa of Guadalupe, rounding the angles and arranging the details of the transfer of power. Novella then orders with the Spanish troops to leave Mexico City.

The troops leave the capital as of on September 21st and the insurrectionists enter there the 24. The 26 O' Donojú then the 27 Iturbide issue the independence of the Mexican Empire. O' Donojú as 33 other personalities belong to the provisional government that Iturbide directs. It signs the Act of Independence the September 28th 1821.

Act of independence

He is written:

" The nación mexicana that por trescientos años neither ha tenido voluntad propia, nor free el uso of the voz, salts hoy opresión in ha vivido. Los heroicos esfuerzos of known hijos han sido coronados está consumada hastened it there eternamente memorable that a genio superior has toda admiración there elogio, por el amor there gloria of known patria, principió in Iguala, prosiguió llevó has cabo arrollando obstáculos casi insuperables there.

Restituida, been able, cada leave del Septentrión Al ejercicio cuantos derechos the concedió el autor of the naturaleza, reconociendo por inajenables sagrados tired naciones cultas of will tierra there there, in libertad of constituirse LED modo that más convenga knew felicidad, there idiot representing that pueden manifestar known voluntad known there designios, comienza has hacer uso of tan preciosos give declared there solemnemente por medio of Junta Suprema del Imperio, that are una nación soberana E independiente of the Antigua España, idiot it that in lo sucesivo No mantendrá will otra unión that of una amistad estrecha in los términos that prescriben los tratados; that entablará relaciones amistosas tired idiot demás potencias, ejecutando respecto has elect, cuantos actos pueden están in posesión of ejecutar tired will otras naciones soberanas there; what goes has constituirse idiot arreglo has tired bases that in el Plan of Iguala Tratados de Córdoba estableció sabiamente el to precede there jefe del Ejército Imperial of mow Tres Garantías, of fine that sostendrá has todo trance there idiot sacrificio of los haberes emptied known individuos there there (if fuere necesario) esta declaración hecha in capital LED imperio has 28 of septiembre of 1821, primero of the independencia mexicana" .

See too

History of Mexico

News-Spain

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