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Who: Educated Creoles and priests in New Spain
What: Ideas of liberty and equality from Europe spread to the colonies.
When: Late 18th century
Where: New Spain (Now Mexico)
Why: Inspired Mexican thinkers to question Spanish rule and social inequality. (Crossroads, p. 45)
pic credit History Channel -
Who: Napoleon Bonaparte and the Spanish monarchy
What: Napoleon forced King Ferdinand VII to abdicate, weakening Spanish authority.
When: 1808
Where: Spain
Why: Created a power vacuum in New Spain that sparked local movements for independence.
(Crossroads, p. 46) pic credit britannica.com -
Who: José María Morelos
What: Continued the fight, organizing a disciplined army and declaring Mexican independence.
When: 1812–1815
Where: Southern Mexico
Why: Strengthened the movement and inspired new leaders.
(Crossroads, p. 52) pic credit -
Who: Hidalgo’s rebel army vs. Spanish troops
What: Rebels seized the city but violence against Spaniards shocked Creole supporters.
When: Late 1810
Where: Guanajuato, Mexico
Why: Showed the strength and danger of the popular uprising.
(Crossroads, p. 49) pic credit Texas state historical association -
Who: Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende, Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez
What: Revolutionaries secretly planned to revolt against Spanish rule.
When: Early 1810
Where: Querétaro, New Spain
Why: The discovery of these meetings led directly to Hidalgo’s uprising.
(Crossroads, p. 47) pic credit timetiast.com -
Who: Father Miguel Hidalgo
What: Hidalgo called on Mexicans to rise up against Spain with the famous “Cry of Dolores.”
When: September 16, 1810
Where: Dolores, Guanajuato
Why: Marked the official beginning of the Mexican War of Independence.
(Crossroads, p. 48) pic credit britannica -
Who: Miguel Hidalgo
What: Captured and executed by Spanish forces.
When: July 30, 1811
Where: Chihuahua City
Why: His death made him a martyr and symbol of independence.
(Crossroads, p. 51) pic credit metmuseum.org -
Who: Hidalgo and Allende vs. Spanish forces
What: Royalists crushed the poorly armed rebel army.
When: January 1811
Where: Near Guadalajara
Why: Major defeat that forced rebel leaders to flee north.
(Crossroads, p. 50) pic credit tripline -
Who: Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero
What: Declared independence, equality, and unity between groups in Mexico.
When: February 24, 1821
Where: Iguala, Guerrero
Why: United royalist and rebel forces for final independence.
(Crossroads, p. 54) pic credit digitalcommons -
Who: Agustín de Iturbide and the Army of the Three Guarantees
What: Entered Mexico City, ending 300 years of Spanish rule.
When: September 27, 1821
Where: Mexico City
Why: Officially achieved Mexican independence from Spain.
(Crossroads, p. 55) pic credit PBS learning media