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Jan 1, 1518
Cortes Designated as Captain General of the Expedition
Velasquez designated Cortes as the Captain General of the expedition to Mexico. Cortes took eleven ships, six-hundred-and-eight men, and sixteen horses with him. -
Feb 1, 1519
Hernan Cortez Begins to Conquer Mexico
Hernan Cortez begins the three-year-long Spanish Conquest of the Aztec Empire -
Aug 15, 1521
Spanish Conquest of Mexico Was Completed
The conquest was victorious when an army of Spanish forces led by Hernán Cortés captured the emperor Cuauhtemoc and the capital of the Aztac Empire, Tenochtitlan. -
Period: Aug 15, 1521 to
Three Centuries of Colonial Rule
Three-hundred-years of Spanish rule over Mexico. -
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla is Born
The Mexican Catholic priest who became the father of the Mexican War for Independence was born. -
Complaints Over the Crown's Monopoly
Complaints started in Mexico over the Crown's Monopoly on products ranging from tobacco to salt. They did not let the profits go to the local citizens. -
America Gains Independence From Britain
America's independence helped start the support for Mexican independence -
French Revolution
The French Revolution helped start the support for Mexican Independence. -
Bourbon Reforms
Set of economic and political legislation introduced by the Spanish Crown to stimulate manufacturing and technology. The reforms caused higher taxes and gave the military more power. The reforms re-established Spainish supremacy over the colonies. -
Hidalgo Gives the "El Grito de Dolores" Speech
Hidalgo starts the Mexican Independence movement with this speech. -
Mexican War of Independence Starts
The Mexican War of Independence was a conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities. The civilians of Mexico felt that the Spanish treatment of the indigenous people and the people born in Mexico was unfair so they fought for independence. -
Battle of Monte de las Cruces
Important battle won by Hidalgo and the Mexican rebels -
Battle of Calderon Bridge
Hidalgo and nearly 90,000 farmers and Mexican civilians fought against 6,000 well-trained Spanish forces. Most fled or were killed during the battle. -
Hidalgo's Capture and Execution
Hidalgo was captured in Mexico City while attempting to flee. He was then put to death by firing squad. -
Spain Accepts Mexican Independence
After elven years of war, Spanish Viceroy Juan de O’Donojú signs the Treaty of Córdoba which gave Mexico independence.
