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Hernan Cortes, leader of the Spanish army, toppled the Aztec empire and founded a capital city, Ciudad de Mexico. Hernan Cortes and his army brought disease that lowered the population.
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Napoleon's invasion and occupation of Spain boosted the revolutionary passion in Mexico and other Spanish colonies.
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Ignacio Allende and Hidalgo planned an uprising for December. Later, this leaked out to Spanish officials and authorities and their arrest was ordered.
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Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla became the father of independence. He urged Mexicans to take arms against the Spanish Government. His declaration ended in a decade long struggle that ended 300 years of colonial rule and established an independent Mexico.
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Miguel's army came close to seizing the Mexicans capital. They Miguel's army came close to seizing the Mexicans capital. They were defeated at Calderon. Miguel fled north but was captured and executed. Peasant leaders, such as Mariano Matamoros and Vicente Guerrero, followed in Miguel’s footsteps and led armies against the Spanish.
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Liberals overcame the Spanish government and promised to meet Mexicans expectations and demands. Mexican conservatives declared independence in order to maintain their privileged position in Mexican society.
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Agustin De Iturbide, leader of the royalist forces negotiated the plan with the Vicente Guerrero for future independence. They agreed Mexico would be recognized as an independent constitutional monarchy. Mexicans kept access to the Catholic church and Mexicans of Spanish descent were equal to pure Spaniards.
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Iturbide was declared emperor of Mexico after no Bourbon monarch came to rule.
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Republican leaders Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria got rid of Iturbide and set up a republic. Guadalupe Victoria became its first president.
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After 40 years of fighting the Mexican army beat the French in the the French-Mexican war in the battle of Puebla. This however, was not the battle for independence. Today this victory is celebrated in a holiday called Cinco De Mayo.
