The Mexican War of Independence:
Part II 1811-1821
When Father Hidalgo was killed by the Spanish, the lower classes of New Spain
(mestizos, Native Americans and slaves) were not discouraged about getting their
independence. But, even though the Spanish armies were outnumbered, they were much
better trained and had better weapons had those seeking independence. Also, the Spanish
had the creoles on their side, creoles were people that were of Spanish blood, but had
been born in the colony.
After Father Hidalgo, another priest named Jose Morelos led the armies of
independence. He was a mestizo and won many battles, but eventually his army was
beaten by the better Spanish and creole troops, and like Father Hidalgo, he was captured
and killed in 1815.
When Father Morelos was defeated the independence fighters had to hide in New
Spain’s mountains, the Sierra Madres. They would come down and make sneak attacks
against the Spanish, but this type of fighting would not discourage the Spanish from
holding on to their wealthy colony that had so many valuable raw materials.
The tide turned again in 1820 when a creole military commander, Agustin de
Iturbide secretly switched sides. Iturbide had fought with the Spanish against Hidalgo
and Morelos, but he switched sides because he did not see an end to the independence
movement, and he saw the chance to gain great power for himself.
He wrote the Plan of Iguala. The plan said that he would be emperor, all people
of Mexico would be equal and it abolished (ended) slavery. This won the approval of the
bottom four groups, the creoles because they would now be the most powerful and
wealthy in Mexico if the Spanish left, and the mestizos, Native Americans and slaves
because they would be equal and free.
Of course, the Spanish rejected his plan and vowed to fight Iturbide. Iturbide took
his great creole, mestizo, Native American and slave army and surrounded the Viceroy of
New Spain. The Viceroy was the Spanish man in charge of all of New Spain. When the
Viceroy saw the great army he had no choice but to give up and agree to the plan.
The Spanish left Mexico an independent country in 1821.
Discussion Questions:
1.) Do you think that Iturbide was a man who truly believed in freedom for all, or a
man that just wanted power? Explain.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2.) Compare and contrast the Plan of Iguala with the Declaration of Independence.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________