México: Journey to Independence

Mexican Independence

Period: Jan 1, 1810 to Sep 27, 1821

Conspiración de Querétaro (Querétaro Conspiracy) [Initiation]

Mar 1, 1810

During the early months of 1810, there existed theQuerétaro Conspiracy. It a clandestine movement that is truly the match that lit Mexico’s war for independence. The conspiracy consisted mostly of creoles, that gathered for meetings (“literacy club”) in order to plot their uprising. This is important because it was this group of people that gave initiation to the armed battle that eventually led New Spain to free themselves from the tight grip of the Spanish crown.

Discovery of the Querétaro Conspiracy [Resistance]

Sep 13, 1810

Marino Galván leaked the news of the conspiracy to his superior, who informed the audiencia in Mexico City. Spanish authorities moved to arrest all people they knew who were involved in the conspiracy. Doña Josefa (La Corregidora) entrusted Ignacio Pérez with the task of carrying the news of the arrest to Ignacio Allende in San Miguel, and Juan Aldama informed Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores. It was decided to strike out for independence at once.

Grito de Dolores [Consolidaiton]

Sep 16, 1810

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla agreed to moving the start of Mexico’s war for independence from December 8 to September 16. He rang church bells to gather people to church and gave a speech known as the Grito de Dolores. Hidalgo adopted the Virgin of Guadalupe for reasons less religious than political, and managed to create an army made of rural indians, mestizos, and castas. The war for independence had begun.

Attack on Alhóndiga de Granaditas [Consolidation]

Sep 28, 1810

Hidalgo and the insurgent army got to Guanajuato on this date. They arrived at the Alhóndiga de Granaditas and it was said that Juan José Martínez, “El Pípila”, committed the heroic act of setting the door on fire, and then Hidalgo and his army took control of the place. There is controversy surrounding “El Pípila”, they say he didn’t exist. It was a miserable night, many deaths, and it took a day and a half to restore order.

Battle of Monte de las Cruces & Hidalgo's Crucial Mistake [Consolidation]

Oct 30, 1810

Hidalgo and Allende had split their army into two striking forces. Hidalgo had an army of about 80,000 marching on Mexico City, and an anticipated battle took place at the Monte de las Cruces. Hidalgo and Allende triumphed, and the Spanish forces were forced to retreat. Hidalgo made the crucial mistake of not attacking the capital after this, which causes the war to last eleven years instead of a little over a month.

Battle of Calderón Bridge [Consolidation]

Jan 17, 1811

Hidalgo retreated his army to Guadalajara. After, Hidalgo, Allende, Aldama and Abasolo, with their army, fought against Spanish military officer Féllix María Calleja. The battle took place on the banks of the Calderón River (Zapotlanejo, Jalisco). Resulting in a Spanish victory. Afterwards, the insurgents fled to the north to try and regroup.

Capture and Execution of Allende & Hidalgo [Consolidation]

Jul 31, 1811

On March 1811, the insurgents were ambushed near Monclova. Hidalgo, Allende, and other leaders were captured by Governor Manuel Salcedo of Texas. Allende and other non-clergical leaders were immediately executed as traitors. Hidalgo was was given a trial and was declared guilty of heresy and treason and was executed on July 31. The leaders were decapitated, their heads were fastened to a pole, on display for people to see in Guanajuato for several years.

Congress of Chilpancingo [Consolidation]

Nov 6, 1813

José María Morelos, the new rebel leader to replace Hidalgo, called for a congress to meet in Chilpancingo (Guerrero) to discuss plans for the nation after the Spaniards were driven out. The congress formally declared independence and agreed upon several principles and with them, incorporated a new constitution. The first legal document regarding this was signed by the deputies on November 6.

Capture & Execution of José María Morelos [Consolidation]

Nov 13, 1815

The Congress of Anahuac gathered in the city of Apatzingan because of the persecution of the troops of Felix Maria Calleja in November of 1814. One year later, José María Morelos began his fourth (and last) military campaign in late 1813. After the Congress of Chilpancingo, Morelos became more of a fugitive than the commander of an organized rebel force. He was captured in November of 1815 in Tezmalaca and was escorted to Mexico City where he was immediately executed.

Plan de Iguala [Consummation]

Feb 24, 1821

Agustín de Iturbide, the Spanish colonel, betrayed the Spanish crown and with Vicente Guerrero, the insurgent leader, created the Plan de Iguala which consisted in three guarantees: 1. Mexico was to become a constitutional monarchy; 2. Roman Catholicism will be the official religion; 3. Creoles and peninsulares would be treated equally. There was also a new army under Iturbide: the Army of the Three Guarantees.

Treaty of Córdoba [Consummation]

Aug 24, 1821

Iturbide, along with Spanish viceroy Juan O'Donojú, together signed the Treaty of Córrdoba. This treaty consisted on recognizing Mexico’s independence from Spain at the end of the war. The treaty contains a total of seventeen articles.

End of Mexican War for Independence [Consummation]

Sep 27, 1821

The iconic moment of Agustín de Iturbide entering Mexico City with the Army of the Three Guarantees on September 1821 marked the end of a total of eleven years at war. In the aftermath, Mexican military was very involved in politics for a while and this long war highly influenced Mexico in the future.