The 7 Causes of Mexican Independence (Internal and External)

The Causes of Mexico's independence Were of diverse types: economic, political and were marked by facts like the conspiracy of Querétaro.

The war of Independence of Mexico was an armed conflict that ended with the aim of dominion of the Spanish Empire on the territory of New Spain in 1821.

The 7 Causes of Mexican Independence (Internal and External)

The zones that today comprise Mexico, Central America and a portion of the United States fell into the hands of the Spanish in August 1521 when Hernán Cortés and his army of Conquerors Overthrew the Aztec empire. This event resulted in more than 3 centuries of colonial rule that decimated native populations.

One of the first revolts against the Spanish government was led by Martin Cortés Malintzin, the illegitimate son of Hernán Cortés and La Malinche, his interpreter and concubine. The event is now known as the Conspiracy of Martin Cortés and showed an incipient disagreement before some of the Spanish laws.

In the years leading up to the independence war, most of the plans to end Spanish control were created by children born to Spaniards born in the New World or Creoles. These were considered socially lower than the native Europeans in the stratified system of caste that was imposed at the time.

However, the objective of this group excluded Mexican natives and mestizos, who lacked even the most basic political and civil rights.

What were the causes of the independence of Mexico?

The 7 Causes of the Independence of Mexico (Internal and External) 1

During the eighteenth century, economic expansion and a certain degree of political relaxation led the Spanish colonies to generate expectations of autonomy. These thoughts were driven by revolutions in the United States in 1776, in France in 1789, and in Haiti in 1804.

Social stratification

The marked social stratification in New Spain also began to generate discomfort in the population and contributed to generate tensions directed towards the revolution.

The Creoles considered themselves as subjects to the Spanish crown and to the doctrines of the Apostolic Roman Church.

Some of the causes of such instability in the new Spain were the economic problems of the Spanish crown, the innumerable prohibitions, the estancos and latifundios, the tributary system, the wealth of the clergy and the dispossession of the indigenous land.

The new society had been established on uneven bases. The people who were born in Spain of Spanish parents, were those who had power and money.

The role of the social classes

Creoles were sons and daughters of Peninsular who were born in the"new world", so they did not consider themselves Spaniards and could not hold any public office.

Indians, mestizos and castes, deprived of rights and forced to work hard, had to pay high taxes imposed by the Spanish crown and had very few opportunities.

Blacks represented slavery and were forced to work in extreme ways.

Surveys in Europe

In Europe, Napoleon Bonaparte began the invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 1808. When French troops entered Madrid, King Charles IV was forced to abdicate and Napoleon named his brother Joseph Bonaparte as the new king.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the occupation of Spain by Napoleon led to the outbreak of revolts throughout Spanish America. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla - the father of Mexican independence - launched the Mexican rebellion with his"cry of Dolores", and his populist army came close to capturing the Mexican capital.

Defeated in Calderón in January 1811, he fled north, but was captured and executed. However, it was followed by other peasant leaders, such as José María Morelos y Pavón, Mariano Matamoros and Vicente Guerrero.

Uncertainty towards the Spanish crown

In certain regions, groups loyal to the crown declared Fernando VII, son of Carlos IV, like the new monarch. This news generated uncertainty about New Spain when not being sure to recognize Fernando VII as the legitimate leader of the colony.

Viceroy José de Iturrigaray agrees with the Creoles to create a junta for the government of the colony.

Nevertheless, the Spaniards living in the colony take power under the fear of the consequences that could bring the criollos in the power. After this event, a Spanish conductor known as Pedro de Garibay Is placed at the head of the colony against the wishes of the Creoles.

The rooms

The classrooms were important because they gave people a place to talk and discuss ideas.

In the halls, people began to discuss ideas of independence. These discussions would allow the revolution to take root with thousands of people in the population.

Closeness to the United States

Because of Mexico's close proximity to the United States, ideas of independence could easily flow between the two countries.

In addition, the Mexican people were able to see the success of the American Revolution up close. It seems that the geographical proximity of Mexico to the United States and the halls played a key role in provoking the revolution.

The process of independence

The conspiracy of Querétaro and the cry of Dolores

The 7 Causes of the Independence of Mexico (Internal and External) 2 Plaza de Dolores.

By 1809 there was a relative calm in Mexico City, but in other regions of the viceroyalty many groups began to stir. Some reforms in trade and low agricultural production led in 1809 to a slowdown in the economy and a famine in 1810.

In the area of ​​Querétaro, a group of non-conformist creoles decides to employ natives and mestizo peasants in order to gain control over the Spaniards. Among the conspiratorial groups was the parish of Dolores east of Guanajuato.

The rebellion began when the Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Formally declared the opposition to the bad government the 16 of September of 1810.

Hidalgo said:

" My friends and compatriots: neither the king nor the tributes exist any longer: we have endured this shameful tax, which only fits the slaves, for three centuries as a sign of tyranny and servitude, a terrible stain. The moment of our freedom has come, the hour of our freedom, and if you recognize its great value, it will help me to defend it from the ambition of the tyrants. There are only a few hours left. Before you see me at the head of men who pride themselves on being free, I invite you to fulfill this obligation, and without homeland or freedom we will always be a long way from true happiness. The cause is holy and God will protect it. Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Long live America for which we are going to fight !"

Hidalgo's Campaign

The 7 Causes of the Independence of Mexico (Internal and External) 3 General_Francisco_Javier_Venegas.

The new viceroy, Francisco Javier Venegas , with him General Félix María Calleja They succeeded in having the armies of Hidalgo withdraw.

In January 1811, Calleja achieved a victory over Hidalgo on the outskirts of Guadalajara and forced the rebels to take refuge in the north. In those provinces Hidalgo and the leaders of the insurgency found temporary shelter under groups that also had declared their rebellion.

In Nuevo Santander, the armies mutinied against the governor when they were ordered to march to San Luis de Postosí to fight the insurgents.

Similarly, the governor of Coahuila, Manuel Antonio Cordero and Bustamante , Suffered the desertion of 700 troops in January 1811 when he confronted an army of rebels of about 8000 individuals.

In Texas, Governor Manuel Salcedo was overthrown on January 22, 1811 by Juan Bautista de las Casas along with troops who were quartered in San Antonio.

Under the orders of Viceroy Venegas, General Joaquín de Arredondo carried out the invasion of Nuevo Santander in February 1811. On March 21 of the same year, officer Ignacio Elizondo ambushes the insurgent leaders Ignacio Allende , Father Hidalgo and his commanders on their way to Monclova in Coahuila.

With this fact, the provinces in the northeast portion returned to hand of the Spanish Empire. In August of 1813, Arredondo defeated to the rebels in the battle of Medina thus securing the territory of Texas for the Spanish crown.

Jose María Morelos

José_María_Morelos. José_María_Morelos.

After the execution of Hidalgo and Allende, José María Morelos y Pavón Assumed the leadership of the independence cause. Under his guidance was obtained the occupation of the cities of Oaxaca and Acapulco.

In 1813, Morelos convenes the Congress of Chilpancingo in an effort to bring together representatives of different groups. On November 6 of that year, the first official document of Mexican independence known as the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America was written.

In 1815, Morelos was captured by royal forces at the Battle of Temalaca and taken to Mexico City. On November 27 of that year he was brought before an inquisitorial tribunal that declared him a heretic. By orders of the Viceroy, Félix María Callejas, Morelos is executed on December 22, 1815.

Guerrilla warfare

From here it was the general Manuel Mier and Terán The one that inherited the leadership of the movement after the death of Morelos, but was unable to unify the forces.

Many independent and diverse guerrilla forces in motives and loyalties continued to exist throughout all provinces including Texas.

This dissension was the one that allowed the forces of the Viceroy Felix Maria Calleja to conquer sequentially or at least to keep under control the movement that was fragmented.

Juan Ruiz de Apodaca as a new Viceroy

The 7 Causes of Mexican Independence (Internal and External)

The next Viceroy, Juan Ruiz de Apodaca , Took a more conciliatory position and offered amnesty to the rebels to lay down their arms and this proved to be a more forceful tool than the repression imparted by Calleja.

This implied that until 1820, any organized movement for Mexican independence remained quiet except for the action of Javier Mina and others based in Texas.

Motivated by events in Spain that forced King Fernando VII to restore elements of a constitutional government, the former commander of the crown Agustín Iturbide Proceeded to the formation of a meeting with the revolutionary Vicente Guerrero To plan the independence of Mexico in 1821.

This was supported mainly by Church officials whose powers and wealth were threatened by the reforms that were being carried out in Spain and that saw as only exit the maintenance of its local power.

Plan of Iguala

Instead of a war and supported by other liberal and conservative factions in Mexico, the Plan of Iguala was formulated on February 24, 1821. This one was called thus by the town in which the meeting was given and in him described reforms led to create a constitutional monarchy with the Bourbons like those with right to the throne, but with limited power.

In case of being rejected it would proceed to appoint an emperor of the territory. Also known as the Plan, Army or Government of The Three Guarantees , It provided protection of the Catholic faith and rights and property to the clergy. Equality was also contemplated between Peninsular and Creole citizens.

Many factions, including the oldest and most inactive revolutionaries, Creole landowners and government officials began to join the movement. The position of Emperor was offered to Fernando VII with the condition that he was the occupant of the throne and supported the idea of ​​a Mexican constitution.

Viceroy Apodaca was offered the position of President of the board for the implementation of the new government, but he declared against it and resigned. The New Viceroy delegate of Spain, Juan de O'Donoju , In assessing the situation agreed to accept the Plan of Equality that would result in the Treaty of Cordova signed on August 24, 1821.

A board appointed Iturbide as Admiral and Grand General. After the death of O'Donoju and the formation of a fractional congress of Crown delegates, Republicans and Imperialists, Iturbide was proclaimed like Emperor of Mexico by the army and the congress was dissolved.

References

1. History.com. STRUGGLE FOR MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE. [Online] [Quoted on: February 25, 2017.] history.com.
2. Countrystudies.us. Wars of Independence, 1810-21. [Online] [Quote On: February 25, 2017.] countrystudies.us.
3. Cary, Diana Serra. HistoryNet. Mexican War of Independence: Father Miguel Hidalgo's Revolt. [Online] December 10, 2000. [Quoted on: February 20, 2017.] historynet.com.
4. MexicanHistory.org. The war for Independence 1810-1821. [Online] [Quote on: February 25, 2017.] mexicanhistory.org.
5. Tigro, Erin. Study.com. Mexican War of Independence: Summary & Timeline. [Online] [Quoted on: February 25, 2017.] study.com.
6. Texas A & M University. Mexican Independence. [Online] [Quoted on: February 25, 2017.] tamu.edu.


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