In the first article of this pairing, we took a brief look at how the Mexican War of Independence began in 1810. Catholic priest and Mexican national, Father Hidalgo, had become disgusted by the indiscriminate abuse of his people during the Peninsular War, and at the hands of the Spanish colonial government. He took up leadership of a rebel army and brought them into battle with Spanish forces. A cursory document of independence was drawn up at the time, but there was much resistance to it on the part of the Spanish.
Unfortunately, just one year after beginning the rebellion, Hidalgo was captured along with several compatriots, and executed. Another rebel leader took his place, but was also executed soon thereafter. The revolution continued, albeit more slowly, and managed to gain control over two major cities of the period: Oaxaca and Acapulco. Between 1815 and 1821, despite the existence of the "Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America", fighting raged on. Rebel forces were losing steam; after all they had endured ten years of fighting and the execution of two strong leaders.
The battle for independence from Spain grew into a fight led by guerrilla forces, forces that were faced by a well-supplied Spanish military and apathy from a devastated Mexican population. It wasn't a good time for Spain either. A successful military coup had just ousted King Ferdinand VII, and the leader of the coup (Colonel Agustin de Iturbide) now planned to head for Mexico. Their plan was to join forces with American independence movements and gain control of both nations.
When Iturbide arrived in New Spain, the first order of business was to defeat the Mexican rebel forces. Yet once again history proves to be stranger than fiction, as Iturbide ended up changing his allegiance and offered to draw up an agreement of mutual fight for independence. They came up with three principles for the battle: Mexico would gain independence and be governed by a separate monarchy, all native peoples would enjoy equal rights, and the Roman Catholic Church would retain their position of privilege in Mexico. With the guarantees laid out for all to see, the small rebel army was joined by massive forces loyal to Iturbide, and the Army of the Three Guarantees was formed.
Finally, on August 24th 1821 a representative of the Spanish crown met with Iturbide and signed the Treaty of Cordoba. The treaty meant Mexico was independent under the terms of the Plan of Iguala, but Iturbide had left a tiny loophole in the plan. It left open the opportunity for a Native Mexican to be appointed as monarch by the Mexican congress. So , the following spring all loyal Iturbide courtiers engaged in a mass demonstration demanding Iturbide accept the throne of Mexico. Mexico may have been independent of Spain by 1821, but the nation was still not free from outside rule. Just three years after Iturbide manipulated himself onto the Mexican throne, he would be thrown off and the United Mexican States was established.
Unfortunately, just one year after beginning the rebellion, Hidalgo was captured along with several compatriots, and executed. Another rebel leader took his place, but was also executed soon thereafter. The revolution continued, albeit more slowly, and managed to gain control over two major cities of the period: Oaxaca and Acapulco. Between 1815 and 1821, despite the existence of the "Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America", fighting raged on. Rebel forces were losing steam; after all they had endured ten years of fighting and the execution of two strong leaders.
The battle for independence from Spain grew into a fight led by guerrilla forces, forces that were faced by a well-supplied Spanish military and apathy from a devastated Mexican population. It wasn't a good time for Spain either. A successful military coup had just ousted King Ferdinand VII, and the leader of the coup (Colonel Agustin de Iturbide) now planned to head for Mexico. Their plan was to join forces with American independence movements and gain control of both nations.
When Iturbide arrived in New Spain, the first order of business was to defeat the Mexican rebel forces. Yet once again history proves to be stranger than fiction, as Iturbide ended up changing his allegiance and offered to draw up an agreement of mutual fight for independence. They came up with three principles for the battle: Mexico would gain independence and be governed by a separate monarchy, all native peoples would enjoy equal rights, and the Roman Catholic Church would retain their position of privilege in Mexico. With the guarantees laid out for all to see, the small rebel army was joined by massive forces loyal to Iturbide, and the Army of the Three Guarantees was formed.
Finally, on August 24th 1821 a representative of the Spanish crown met with Iturbide and signed the Treaty of Cordoba. The treaty meant Mexico was independent under the terms of the Plan of Iguala, but Iturbide had left a tiny loophole in the plan. It left open the opportunity for a Native Mexican to be appointed as monarch by the Mexican congress. So , the following spring all loyal Iturbide courtiers engaged in a mass demonstration demanding Iturbide accept the throne of Mexico. Mexico may have been independent of Spain by 1821, but the nation was still not free from outside rule. Just three years after Iturbide manipulated himself onto the Mexican throne, he would be thrown off and the United Mexican States was established.
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