Mexican War of Independence

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The Mexican War of Independence was not a single, unified conflict but a series of local and regional struggles that together formed a revolutionary civil war. Its appearance was marked by a massive, poorly organized initial uprising led by a parish priest, followed by a second phase of insurgency under another priest, and eventually devolving into guerrilla warfare. The conflict ranged across the territory of New Spain, from the initial rural revolt to the final military triumph in Mexico City. The defining characteristic of the war was its deep roots in pre-existing cultural, religious, and racial divides, which shaped both the movement and the conflict’s progression. A crucial factor was the direct impact of events in Spain: Napoleon’s invasion and the subsequent crisis of legitimacy led to the formation of juntas and the drafting of the Spanish Constitution of 1812, which attempted to address the aspirations of American-born Spaniards for more local control. The war’s outcome was not inevitable; it culminated unexpectedly when a former royalist commander allied with a guerrilla leader under a unified plan, rapidly collapsing royal government. This turn was prompted by Spanish liberals overthrowing the autocratic king, which pushed conservatives in New Spain toward independence. The conflict also drew on a longer history of indigenous resistance and saw Afro-Mexicans playing crucial roles. The war ended with the drafting of a declaration of independence following the military triumph and the signing of a treaty ending Spanish rule.

Reader's Guide

Pre-existing cultural, religious, and racial divides in Mexico played a major role in the development and progression of the war. The conflict was not a single, coherent event but a series of local and regional struggles that can be considered a revolutionary civil war. It began with an uprising led by the parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, whose revolt was massive but poorly organized; he was captured and executed in 1811. A second phase was led by Father José María Morelos, who was also captured and executed in 1815. The insurgency then devolved into guerrilla warfare, with Vicente Guerrero emerging as a leader. Neither side gained the upper hand, leading to a military stalemate that lasted until 1821. The turning point came when former royalist commander Agustín de Iturbide allied with Guerrero under the Plan of Iguala, forming a unified force that rapidly collapsed royal government. This unexpected turn was prompted by events in Spain, where liberals overthrew Ferdinand VII in 1820, causing conservatives in New Spain to seek independence to maintain their position. The unified army entered Mexico City in triumph in September 1821, and the Spanish viceroy signed the Treaty of Córdoba, ending Spanish rule. Indigenous resistance in Mexico predated the war, including the 1761 Peasant Revolt in Puebla, which sustained opposition traditions. Afro-Mexican leaders like Guerrero and Morelos were crucial to the movement. Following independence, the mainland was organized as the First Mexican Empire under Iturbide, which was overthrown in 1823 and replaced by a federal republic. Spain recognized Mexican independence in 1836 after failed reconquest attempts.

Did You Know?

• The war was not a single coherent event but a series of local and regional struggles.
• Afro-Mexicans Vicente Guerrero and José María Morelos played crucial roles in the independence movement.