Mexico’s Path to Independence: From Conspiracy to Nationhood
Chapter III: Independent Mexico
Political Developments in Spain and Mexico
In 1808, Napoleon’s invasion of Spain led to political turmoil in Mexico. The City Council of Mexico proposed that the colony follow the supreme authority of the colonial rule on an interim basis, in the name of Ferdinand VII.
Spanish Resistance and the Royal Court
However, a group of Spanish landowners supported the Royal Court, which rejected the council’s proposal and deposed the viceroy.
Conspiracies and the Grito de Dolores
In 1809, a conspiracy in Valladolid proposed resistance to the French and independence if Spain succumbed. In 1810, another conspiracy in Queretaro led to the armed movement initiated by Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810.
Hidalgo’s Leadership and Exclusionary Nationalism
Hidalgo’s political views were unclear, but he publicly recognized Ferdinand as king. His actions and speech showed evidence of exclusionary nationalism towards the Spanish.
Ignacio LÓPEZ Rayon and the Zitcuaro Congress
After Hidalgo’s death, Ignacio LÓPEZ Rayon became the leader of the insurgents. He called a meeting in Zitcuaro to establish a supreme government, but it failed to unify the insurgent groups.
José María Morelos y Pavón and the Apatzingan Congress
José María Morelos y Pavón emerged as a key figure in the independence movement. He emancipated from the fiction of Ferdinand and defined the concept of a Mexican nation free from foreign influence. He convened a National Congress in Chilpancingo, which declared independence from Spain and drafted the Constitutional Decree for the Liberty of Mexican America.
Central Republic and the Weakening of Morelos
The Congress established a Central Republic with supreme power in Congress. This weakened Morelos’s authority.
Viceroy Calleja and the Decline of the Insurgency
Viceroy Calleja defeated Morelos and took him prisoner in 1814. The insurgency waned, with only isolated groups remaining.
Francisco Javier Mina and the Resurgence of the Insurgency
In 1815, Francisco Javier Mina arrived to fight against Ferdinand VII’s despotism. He briefly revived the insurgency, but was captured and executed in 1817.
The End of the Insurgency
The insurgency gradually declined, and by 1817, it was virtually extinguished.