Campaign of Morelos: Background and Development

Morelos campaign is the name given to the military campaign led by the priest José María Morelos, one of the protagonists of the Mexican War of Independence. In fact, historians speak of up to four different campaigns, which took place between 1810 and 1815.

Morelos won important victories in his fight against the side loyal to the Spanish Crown, although he also suffered several defeats. During that period he was the organizer of what can be considered the first legislative body of Mexico, the Congress of Anahuac.

In his early years he supported the Spanish King Ferdinand VII, but events changed his position. The one who convinced him to participate militarily in the war was Miguel Hidalgo, a priest like him. Hidalgo participated in the conspiracy of Querétaro and had launched the Grito de Dolores, with which the independence struggle began.

In spite of the great delivery that Morelos demonstrated during the war, he was finally taken prisoner and shot by the Spaniards. Today, the city where he was born is called Morelia in his honor (old Valladolid) and Benito Juárez baptized with his surname one of the states that make up the Mexican union.

Background

José María Morelos

José María Morelos, also known as Servant of the Nation, was born in Valladolid on September 30, 1815. Very soon he directed his steps to the ecclesiastical service, studying in the seminary and being ordained a priest. In the time before the beginning of the War of Independence he lived in Carácuaro.

The entry of the French into Spain and the replacement of Ferdinand VII on the Spanish throne by Napoleon's brother, Joseph, provoked the logical restlessness in the then colony. In that first moment, Morelos was positioned on the side of the legitimate king, like many of the Mexicans.

In 1810 the fear grew that the French decided to invade New Spain, which provoked the reaction of the Church. Other sectors also began to make movements, especially the criollos who were acquiring certain economic and social power.

The Revolution explodes

At first, the intention of these sectors was not to fight for independence. The plan was to form boards of government that were faithful to Fernando VII, but formed by Mexicans and with a certain self-government.

In this context the Conjuration of Valladolid takes place and, later, the Conspiracy of Querétaro. The failure of this last attempt and the reaction of the Spaniards leads one of its leaders, Miguel Hidalgo, to launch the so-called Cry of Dolores, calling to take up arms against the royalists.

Hidalgo, who was also a priest, contacted Morelos on October 20, 1810, barely a month after the start of hostilities. After an interview, he convinced him to join their ranks.

Development

As noted above, the Morelos Campaign was actually four different campaigns developed over five years. Apart from military activity, Morelos maintained a great political activity both practical and theoretical, with his writings on the subject.

First campaign

The first of the campaigns carried out by Morelos obeyed the direct mandate of Miguel Hidalgo. This had ordered him to go south and take the port of Acapulco, in order to hinder the trade of the colony.

Despite his lack of military experience, José María Morelos managed to organize a fearsome and disciplined army. However, his first attempt to assault Acapulco ended in failure, and he was forced to retreat.

Undaunted, he launched the conquest of Chilpancingo and Tixtla, achieving some victories.

The news of the execution of Hidalgo and other leaders of independence in June 1811 caused a certain break in the clashes. The separatist side needed some time to reorganize and, finally, López Rayón was the one who occupied the leadership. One of his first actions was to create the Supreme National Board of America.

This junta still promised loyalty to the Spanish king, which did not please Morelos. In any case, the movement continued to grow, attracting many of the Creole intellectuals and landowners of the time.

Second campaign

After this restructuring in command, the second military campaign began. It began in November 1811 and lasted until May of the following year. Morelos decided to divide his troops, forming three different forces to try to reach several objectives at the same time.

One of the forces had to march to try to take Oaxaca, another had orders to conquer Taxco and the third, under the command of Morelos himself, went north. The latter managed to enter Izúcar, which surrendered without fighting. The next was to arrive in Cuautla, taking several other towns along the way.

Controversial movement

The movement that then made Morelos has become one of the most discussed by historians. The logical thing would have been to go to Puebla and prepare the assault on Mexico City from there, but instead he sent for Taxco to meet with the troops that had achieved the goal of conquering it.

This supposed to give the opportunity to the realists to attack Zitácuaro, seat of the Board of Rayón. The victory of the Spaniards, commanded by Felix Maria Calleja, was the beginning of the fall of Rayon and his supporters.

Upon hearing the news, Morelos returns to Cuautla, Calleja's next target. After a site that lasted until May 1812, the result was in tables. It is true that the city was recovered for the royalist side, but Morelos and his people managed to escape what was a desperate situation after three months of siege.

Third campaign

From June 1812 to August 1813, the third campaign directed by Morelos took place. It is possibly the most successful of all the ones that it realized, getting to control the axis between Chiautla and Tehuacán.

In November he decided to attack Oaxaca, succeeding in defeating the royalist defenders. This action was a great increase in popularity due to the brilliance of its strategy.

In that city he established his headquarters and dedicated himself to extending the control area. In the same way, it created a whole new administrative structure, enacted some laws and established a kind of police to maintain order.

According to the experts, Morelos faced a question about what the next step should be. Some asked him to go directly to the capital, while others advocated conquering Acapulco in order to receive help from foreign allies, especially from the United States.

Finally it was decided by that second option and in January of 1813 it put march towards the coastal city. The siege lasted from April to August and in that last month he achieved his goal, entering the town.

Fourth campaign

After these military successes, Morelos tried to strengthen the positions won and create a government structure. He settled in Chilpancingo and proposed a plan of 59 articles to govern the country. It could be said that it was almost an authentic Constitution.

In this project the separation of powers was established, with a generalissimo as holder of the executive power in perpetuity. For the legislature he thought about forming a Congress of deputies, while he proposed not to change the existing Judicial Branch.

As an important part, article 17 declared the independence of Spain, no longer swearing allegiance to any king.

Morelos generalissimo

The project of Morelos became a reality on November 14, 1813. The Congress elected him as a generalissimo by acclamation, being invested with all the powers associated with the office. The Chamber of Deputies was functioning regularly during those months.

At the military level, Morelos decided to go one step further towards full control of the country. At the end of 1813 he set up a site for Valladolid, with the aim of moving the Congress there. However, the realists reacted promptly and the arrival of reinforcements caused that Morelos and his own had to withdraw with many casualties.

With this defeat, the power of Morelos fell a lot and during the next two years he limited himself to obey the Congress of Chilpancingo.

Defeat of Morelos

The previous one was the last campaign carried out by Hidalgo. The royalists, under the command of Calleja, fiercely counterattacked throughout the territory. After a series of defeats, Morelos was taken prisoner.

As it had previously happened to Miguel Hidalgo, he first had an ecclesiastical trial in which the priestly orders were withdrawn. Then he had the military trial that sentenced him to death.

On December 22, 1815 was executed in the remains of the castle of San Cristóbal Ecatepec.

Refere ncias

1. Mexico history. Morelos campaigns. Retrieved from independenciademexico.com.mx
2. Nava, Christian. The Campaigns of Morelos. Recovered from inehrm.gob.mx
3. lhistory José María Morelos. Retrieved from lhistoria.com
4. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. José María Morelos. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. New world encyclopedia. Mexican War of Independence. Retrieved from newworldencyclopedia.org
6. Olvera, Alfonso. Jose maria morelos and pavon. Retrieved from inside-mexico.com
   
7. Graham, Richard. Independence in Latin America: Contrasts and Comparisons. Recovered from books.google.es
8. Biography.com. José María Morelos. Retrieved from biography.com