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Date: 1790s - 1800s
There were many reasons for the rise of discontent among the New Spain population. The unfair distribution of money that favored the few, the Sistema de Castas, and the discrimination against the population of mestizos, Indians, and others. The atmosphere in New Spain right before the Mexican War of Independence was one of political and economic unrest, with many groups of criollos and mestizos already preparing to revolt against the Spanish government. (114,115,116) -
Date: February 1793
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Governor Manuel Muñoz was ordered to suppress Mission San Antonio de Valero, which began the secularization of the mission complex in Spanish Texas. The mission complex was meant to convert and civilize the indigenous population into Spanish colonial society, but most refused and preferred to continue with their own way of life. With the end of the mission complex, the Spanish will begin to lose some of their control. (88,89)(Khan Academy) -
Date: 1795
The treaty allowed U.S. citizens to use the Mississippi River and New Orleans as a trans-shipment port for their products. This would attract Anglo-Americans and European entrepreneurs who saw a great opportunity. The treaty would increase the Spanish concern about Anglo-Americans, which would cause the Spanish to focus more on protecting the Texas frontier from the American threat than the threat already growing within New Spain. (104,105)(Wikipedia) -
Date: September 16, 1810
Location: Dolores Hidalgo
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was a priest of a small town of Dolores Hidalgo, where he would utter his famous “Cry of Dolores” speech in front of his church, which marks the start of the Mexican War of Independence. He would go on to recruit and lead the insurgent army to fight against Spanish rule. The rise of Hidalgo resulted from the growing resentment among the population towards the Spanish government. (116,117)(Events Los Cabos) -
Date: January 21, 1811
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Juan Bautista de Casas led Texas's first revolt against Spanish rule, he was a retired criollo militia officer. The Casas Revolt had issues from the beginning; many locals were unwilling to risk going against the Spanish government, the news of Hidalgo's defeat caused unease among some Tejanos. These issues contributed to the failure of this revolt. (118)(Youtube, True Texas History) -
Date: March 21, 1811
Even after Hidalgo’s defeat in Guadalajara on January 17, 1811, he evaded capture for 2 months before he was captured. But on March 21, 1811, the royalists captured and executed Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla for his participation as leader of the insurgent army. Father Jose Maria Morelos would take on the role of leader of the insurgent army. Even after what happened to Hidalgo, others were still determined to continue his fight against Spanish rule. (119)(Wikipedia) -
Date: March 29, 1813
Location: Southeast of San Antonio.
At the Battle of Rosillo, about 1,200 men under Colonel Simon Herrera went against about 800 men in the Republican Army of the North. Governor Manuel Salcedo had to surrender after losing most of their fighting capability. Under the command of Gutierrez de Lara and Samuel Kemper, the Republican Army took control of San Antonio. This battle showed the diminishing power the Spanish had to protect their territory. (120)(San Antonio Report) -
Date: August 18, 1813
Location: South of San Antonio
General Joaquin Arredondo's royalist army fought against José Álvarez de Toledo's Republic Army of the North. Toledo's army was composed of Mexicans, Anglo-Americans, and Indians. This was the bloodiest battle ever to take place on Texas soil. The Spanish would take control over Texas again, and this would be one of the royalists' major victories. (122)(San Antonio Report) -
Date: November 1815
Father Jose Maria Morelos to over as leader of the independence movement after the death of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. Father Morelos was a great military tactician, and manage to take control over a portion of the country south of Mexico. But was unble to convince enough criollos to his cause. When Father Morelos was executed, unlike with Hidalgo, no one seemed to have take over as leader of the movement at least not immidiatetly after. (122)(Wikipedia) -
Date: February 1819
U.S. Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish Ambassador Luis de Onis reached an agreement. They reached a compromise that Spain would keep Texas but cede Florida to the United States. The U.S. may have agreed to the Adams-Onis Treaty since it may have concluded that Spain would lose control of Texas. The loss of Florida and the U.S. assumption that Spain would lose control of Texas continue to show how Spain was losing power over its territories. (127,128)(Wikipedia) -
Date: June 23, 1819
(128)(Wikipedia) -
Date: July-August 1821
Not wanting to appear rebellious to the royalists, Bexar leaders waited until the last moment to support independence. It was not until July 19 that the civilians and military officials swore loyalty to the new independent nation. La Bahia and its officials also swore loyalty. The Spanish rule ended when the final few settlements swore allegiance to the new nation between July and August 1821. (129)(Wikipedia) -
Date: February 24, 1821
Royalist officer Agustin de Iturbide was meant to confront the leading rebel, Vicente Guerrero, but instead of fighting, they agreed on the separation of Mexico from Spain. Both men would sign the Plan of Iguala, which consisted of three clauses: Catholicism would continue being Mexico’s official religion, Mexico would be a constitutional monarchy, and equality. The signing of the Plan of Iguala was one of the final steps in ending Spanish rule. (129)(Wikipedia) -
Date: 1824
(138,139)(Wikipedia)