By the time the Mexican War of Independence began in 1810, it had already been a long time coming. In fact, the people of Mexico had been seeking independence from the Spanish crown when the Aztec Empire fell in 1521. That means for 289 years the Mexican people yearned to be out from under the thumb of Spain. Even the son of Hernan Cortes desired a more equitable relationship between the two nations. Martin Cortes led a full-scale revolt against the colonial government his father helped establish, just in an effort to eliminate the oppressive conquistadors.
Go to Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, or even Tulum, and utter the name Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to a Mexican national. Look on the one thousand Mexican dollar bill, and study the portrait of Father Hidalgo. He is considered one of the Fathers of Mexico, and a celebrated hero. Hidalgo may have been a Catholic priest, a man who had embraced the religion of the Spanish colonizers, but he saw a dire need for rebellion against the colonial government. Events on the Yucatan peninsula between warring European groups had had a devastating effect upon the people living there, including slavery and forced military action. It was the Peninsular War that finally pushed Hidalgo to organize a revolutionary army and begin systematic attacks upon the colonial government.
Several small battles took place, and for the most part the rebel army prevailed. Unfortunately, when it came to the Battle of the Bridge of Calderon, the insurgents were defeated. Survivors fled across the US-Mexico border, but were met by another faction of the Spanish army. Inevitably the remaining soldiers, including Father Hidalgo, were captured and put on trial by the Spanish Inquisition. All were executed; their heads removed and put on display as a warning to other rebels. Just a year after initiating the revolution, the future Father of Mexico was dead.
The death of Father Hidalgo did not mean the end of the rebellion. Jose Maria Morelos took up the mantle, and continued the revolution in a much more calculated manner. Large cities were occupied, trade was halted and finally in 1813 the first deed of independence was agreed upon by the Congress of Chilpancingo. Now this was just one little piece of parchment, and certainly not everyone was convinced, so naturally fighting continued - but it was a start!
This was not the end of the War of Independence; it was just a resting spot on the long bumpy road to the future nation of Mexico. See the next article in this series for the conclusion of this important chapter in the history of Mexico.
Go to Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, or even Tulum, and utter the name Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to a Mexican national. Look on the one thousand Mexican dollar bill, and study the portrait of Father Hidalgo. He is considered one of the Fathers of Mexico, and a celebrated hero. Hidalgo may have been a Catholic priest, a man who had embraced the religion of the Spanish colonizers, but he saw a dire need for rebellion against the colonial government. Events on the Yucatan peninsula between warring European groups had had a devastating effect upon the people living there, including slavery and forced military action. It was the Peninsular War that finally pushed Hidalgo to organize a revolutionary army and begin systematic attacks upon the colonial government.
Several small battles took place, and for the most part the rebel army prevailed. Unfortunately, when it came to the Battle of the Bridge of Calderon, the insurgents were defeated. Survivors fled across the US-Mexico border, but were met by another faction of the Spanish army. Inevitably the remaining soldiers, including Father Hidalgo, were captured and put on trial by the Spanish Inquisition. All were executed; their heads removed and put on display as a warning to other rebels. Just a year after initiating the revolution, the future Father of Mexico was dead.
The death of Father Hidalgo did not mean the end of the rebellion. Jose Maria Morelos took up the mantle, and continued the revolution in a much more calculated manner. Large cities were occupied, trade was halted and finally in 1813 the first deed of independence was agreed upon by the Congress of Chilpancingo. Now this was just one little piece of parchment, and certainly not everyone was convinced, so naturally fighting continued - but it was a start!
This was not the end of the War of Independence; it was just a resting spot on the long bumpy road to the future nation of Mexico. See the next article in this series for the conclusion of this important chapter in the history of Mexico.
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