Case Study: Mexico
Brief Overview of Mexican Independence_________________________________________________
1519-1821-Spanish territory
1810- Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Creole priest, organized a large army of Indians dissatisfied with Spanish rule, by raising a
battle cry for Mexican independence from Spain, “el grito de Dolores”
1810- Hidalgo captured several Mexican provinces from Spanish rule
1810- Hidalgo set up a government that reflected the ideals of the French revolution
1811 – Hidalgo was captured by troops loyal to Spanish rule and was executed
1810-1815, Jose Morelos, a mestizo priest, takes up the cause of Mexican
independence; Morelos announced goals liberal reforms, like equal rights for all
races and redistribution of land to poor peasants, which angered the creole and
peninsulares
1815- Creoles and peninsulares helped Spanish troops capture and execute Morelos
1821 – Agustin Iturbide, a conservative who had once fought for Spain, united
conservative and liberal groups and declared Mexico an independent state. Spain had few remaining supporters, and was forced
to recognize the independence of Mexico.
1821- Iturbide proclaimed himself emperor of Mexico, but had a short-lived unpopular reign.
1823- Iturbide was forced to abdicate; a convention meets to draw up a constitution, which established Mexico as a republic with
a president and a two-house congress.
Mexico’s Colonial Social Structure
Mexico’s Silver Production, as compared to Peru
Move to Independence: The Mexican revolution differed from the rest of South America in that a violent social protest
originated from the lower social classes. Spain, however, was not willing to let go of Mexico so easily, as Mexico had great
economic potential. Mexican silver production accounted for 67% of all silver produced in the world in 1789, and Mexico was the
world’s leading producer of silver at the time. Independence, however, was stirring amongst the lower classes, and revolution was
ignited by charismatic leaders. On September 16, 1810, in the small Mexican village of Dolores, the Creole parish priest, Father
Miguel Hidalgo, rang the church bell to call his people together and deliver to them a stirring message. “My children,” he
proclaimed, “will you not be free? Will you make the effort to recover from the hated Spaniards the land stolen from your
forefathers 300 years ago?” That day, Hidalgo raised a battle cry for independence from Spain, “el grito de Dolores”, that
would echo through Mexico for 100 years. After Hidalgo is captured and executed, the independence cause continued with Jose
Maria Morelos, and would ultimately end with the final independence movement from Spain under the leadership of Agustin
Iturbide. While the Mexican Independence War with Spain was hard fought, saw the untimely death of its two founders, and in
the end, restored Creole values of land ownership and privilege to the upper classes, it is notable that the uprising began with the
commoners.
Case Study: Mexico
Mexican Revolutionaries:
 Father Miguel Hidalgo (1753-1811)
 Son of a hacienda manager and priest in a highly prosperous
mining and agricultural region.
 Helped lead a rebel horde of 60,000 that in Guanajuato
massacred and mutilated Europeans and creoles alike.
 Hidalgo did not discipline the horde for feat they would turn on
him.
 In 1811 he was condemned by the church and creoles alike. He
was eventually captured and executed.
 José María Morelos (1765-1815)
 Rural mestizo priest from the south.
 Claimed the revolution was justified as the Spaniards enslaved
the native populations.
 Developed a well-equipped and disciplined army that gained
revenue through taxes in captured areas.
 Appeal was with the masses, but not leading creoles.
 Preached the end of class distinctions and Indian tributes and
slavery.
 Captured and eventually executed by the viceroy Calleja in 1815.
 Agustín Iturbide
 Catholic landowner and Creole officer.
 He put forth a plan that called for “unity, religion and
independence”.
 Became an unpopular emperor after the independence
of Mexico from Spain.
 Forced to abdicate.