Mexican War of Independence facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican War of Independence |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Spanish American wars of independence | |||||||||
 Clockwise from top left: Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Trigarante Army in Mexico City, Mural of independence by O'Gorman, Embrace of Acatempan between Iturbide and Guerrero |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
     Insurgents Army of the Three Guarantees |
|||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Miguel Hidalgo  (1810–11) Ignacio Allende (1810–11) Ignacio López Rayon (POW) (1810–13) José María Morelos (1810–15) Vicente Guerrero (1810–21) Mariano Matamoros (1811–14) Guadalupe Victoria (1812–21) Francisco XavierMina (1817) Agustín de Iturbide (1821) |
 Ferdinand VII Francisco Venegas (1810–13) Félix María Calleja (1810–16) Juan Ruiz de A. (1816–21) Francisco Novella (1821) Juan O'Donojú (1821) |
||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
| 250,000–500,000 killed | |||||||||
The Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) was a big fight between the people of Mexico and the Spanish government that ruled them. It began on September 16, 1810. People born in Mexico with Spanish parents (called criollos), people of mixed heritage (Mestizos), and Native Americans all wanted to be free from Spain.
Contents
History of Mexican Independence
The idea of Mexico becoming independent started many years ago. It began after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, when Martín Cortés led a revolt against the Spanish rulers.
In 1799, a secret plan called the Conspiracy of the Machetes failed. But the real War of Independence began in 1810 with the famous Grito de Dolores. This happened while Spain was busy fighting against French invaders in Europe.
Starting the War for Independence
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a Mexican priest. He was part of a group of educated criollos in Querétaro. They met in tertulias (social gatherings) and decided a revolt was needed. This was because of problems Spain faced in Europe. Hidalgo worked closely with Ignacio de Allende, a military leader. Their plan was to start a battle in December 1810.
However, someone in their group told the Spanish authorities about their plan. So, Hidalgo had to act quickly. On September 16, 1810, around 6:00 am, he called his church members in the town of Dolores. He declared independence from Spain and war against the government. This famous moment is known as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores).
The revolutionary army, which was more like a large, unorganized crowd, marched to Guanajuato. This was an important mining city controlled by Spaniards and criollos. The rebels attacked the granary (a building for storing grain) where many Spanish leaders and their supporters were hiding. Many people were killed, including some who supported independence. This caused a disagreement between Hidalgo and Allende. Allende then left with his soldiers.
On October 30, Miguel Hidalgo's army fought the Spanish forces at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces. The rebels won this battle.
In January 1811, Spanish forces fought the Battle of the Bridge of Calderón. The peasant army lost this battle. This made the rebels try to escape towards the United States-Mexican border. But they were caught by the Spanish army.
Hidalgo and what was left of his army were captured in Coahuila at the Wells of Baján. He was put on trial by the Inquisition (a religious court). On July 30, 1811, he was executed.
After Father Hidalgo's death, José María Morelos took over as the leader of the revolutionary army. Under his command, the cities of Oaxaca and Acapulco were captured. In 1813, the Congress of Chilpancingo held its first meeting. On November 6 of that year, the Congress signed the first official document of independence. It was called the "Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America". This was followed by a long fight at the Siege of Cuautla. In 1815, Morelos was caught by Spanish authorities. He was put on trial and executed for treason (betraying his country) in San Cristóbal Ecatepec on December 22.
Achieving Independence
By the early 1820s, the independence movement was almost over. Two of their main leaders had been executed. The rebels found it very hard to fight the well-organized Spanish army. Also, many important criollos were no longer interested. They did not like the violence of Hidalgo's and Morelos's unorganized armies. They wanted a calmer way to get independence.
In December 1820, the Spanish viceroy (the ruler of the colony), Juan Ruiz de Apodaca, sent an army. It was led by a criollo officer named Colonel Agustín de Iturbide. His job was to fight the rebels in Oaxaca. Iturbide was known for how he had fought Hidalgo's and Morelos's rebels earlier.
The fight in Oaxaca happened at the same time as a successful coup (a military takeover of the government) in Spain. This coup was against the king, Ferdinand VII. The king was forced to bring back the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812. When this news reached Mexico, Iturbide saw it as a chance for the criollos to take control of Mexico. After first fighting Guerrero's forces, Iturbide changed sides. He invited the rebel leader to meet and talk about a new independence plan.
In the town of Iguala, Iturbide created three main rules, or "guarantees," for Mexico's independence from Spain:
- Mexico would become an independent kingdom. It would be ruled by King Ferdinand, another European prince, or a criollo ruler chosen by a Mexican congress.
- Criollos (Mexican-born Spaniards) and peninsulares (Spaniards born in Spain) would have equal rights.
- The Roman Catholic Church would keep its special rights and be the only religion allowed.
He made his troops agree to these rules. They are known as the Plan of Iguala. Iturbide then convinced Guerrero to join his forces to support this new independence plan. A new army, called the Army of the Three Guarantees, was formed under Iturbide's command. This army would make sure the Plan of Iguala was followed. The plan was so broad that it made both patriots (who wanted independence) and loyalists (who wanted to stay with Spain) happy. The goals of independence and protecting the Catholic Church brought everyone together.
Rebel forces from all over Mexico joined Iturbide's army. When it was clear the rebels would win, the viceroy resigned. On August 24, 1821, representatives from Spain and Iturbide signed the Treaty of Córdoba. This agreement officially recognized Mexico's independence under the rules of the Plan of Iguala.
On September 27, the Army of the Three Guarantees marched into Mexico City. The next day, Iturbide declared the independence of the Mexican Empire.
On the night of May 18, 1822, many people marched through the streets. They demanded that their leader, Iturbide, become emperor. The next day, the congress declared Iturbide the emperor of Mexico.
Related pages
Images for kids
-
Banner with the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe carried by Hidalgo and his insurgent militia.
-
On 28 September 1810, Hidalgo led the siege of the Alhóndiga de Granaditas in Guanajuato.
-
Father José María Morelos.
-
Official seal of the Supreme Junta.
-
Congress of Chilpancingo the day of the signing of Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern America. Morelos is standing at far right, with the white kerchief.
-
Félix María Calleja, a royalist military commander and later viceroy of New Spain.
-
Vicente Guerrero, a mixed-race leader of the insurgency in southern Mexico.
-
Abrazo de Acatempan, showing Guerrero and Iturbide forming an alliance in 1821.
-
A painting showing mestizos from the colonial era.
See also
In Spanish: Independencia de México para niños
