Mexico Fighting for Independence
- The Beginnings
- The struggle for Mexican Independence dates back to the decades after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire, when Martin Cortes (Son of Hernan Cortes.)—Know for Sem. Test
- Martin Cortes led a revolt against the Spanish colonial government in order to eliminate privileges for the conquistadors. (His mother was not Hernan’s wife, but his interpreter.)
- Conspiracy of the Machetes
- Pedro de la Portilla was the leader.
- In 1799 he arranged a meeting with about twenty other powerless youths.
- The meeting discussed the situation that Criollos found themselves in, in relation to Peninsulares (Criollos were “Europeans” born in America, and Peninusulares were Europeans born in Spain.)
- Those present agreed to rise in arms to rid the country of Peninsulares.
- The plan agreed on was to free prisoners, and with them storm the viceroy’s palace, thus capturing high officials and funds.
- The conspirators then intended to proclaim the independence of Mexico, declare war on Spain, and kill or expel the Peninsulares.
- To accomplish this, they were counting on 1,000 pesos of silver, two pistols, and some 50 cutlasses and machetes.
- Results:
- Failure
- Gritos de Dolores=The Cry of Dolores
- Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a local priest and member of a group of educated Criollos met in saloons and in 1810 arrived at the conclusion that a revolt against the colonial government.
- Sept. 16, 1810, he declared independence from the Spanish crown, and war against the government in what was known as the Gritos de Dolores.
- Oct. 30, Miguel Hidalgo’s army encountered Spanish resistance at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces, fought them and achieved victory.
- However, the rebel army failed to defeat the large and heavily armed Spanish army in Mexico City.
- The surviving rebels fled to the U.S. – Mexican border but were met by the Spanish. They were executed and their Hidalgo’s head was displayed to the public.
- Sides in the Battle
- Patriots
- Mexican Insurgents
- Europeans and volunteers after 1819
- Mexican ex-royalists
- Army of the Tree Guarantees—own monarch, prosperous, and they were catholic
- Patriots
- Royalists
- Spanish royalists before 1821
- Mexican royalist
- For the Next 10 years…
- The Mexicans were being held in check by the Spanish.
- Mexico was about to give up and listen to their motherland Spain when…….
- Change in Fortunes
- In 1820, when the Royalist general Iturbide changed sides and joined the rebels.
- He feared that Spain would fall into liberal hands.
- Iturbide brought the Royalist army to his side, and then declared himself emperor, but his reign was exceedingly short.
- He was overthrown by Santa Anna after only a year, and Guadalupe Victoria was elected the first president of the Mexican Republic.
- Spain Tries to Regain Mexico
- Battle of Tampico
- Mexicans defeat Spanish
- On July 31, 1827 a force of 1500 Mexicans under Santa Anna laid siege to 3000 Spanish and Cuban soldiers, under Barradas, who landed in Tampico, with the intention of overthrowing the Mexican government.
- The Spaniards were cut off from reinforcements and surrendered Sept. 11.
- Results of the Battle for Mexican Independence
- First Mexican Empire established
- Spain loses Mexico and losses a lot of respect from the world.
- Battle of Tampico
Compare the American Revolution with the Mexican Revolution-1 paragraph
Rhiana Chickering
Both the American Revolution and the Mexican Revolution had a goal to gain independence from their mother country. Mexico and America did not like the government of their mother countries. Therefore, both America and Mexico wanted to govern themselves. America revolted against its colonial power, Great Britain. Mexico revolted against its mother country, Spain. Both countries fought many battles in order to gain their independence. After fighting many battles, both America and Mexico won independence from their mother countries.
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