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Mexico's Several Independences

I. Bourbon Reforms

• A. 1700 - Hapsburg line replaced by French Bourbons
• B. Felt strong enough by mid-century to seek reform
  • 1. Weaken local, creole power in favor of royal and penisulare power
  • 2. Rationalize trade
  • 3. More efficiently siphon off colonial wealth
  • 4. Strengthen Empire against outsiders, e.g. British, Dutch, French.
• C. Colonial reaction
  • 1. Greatly stimulated economy
  • 2. Deeply upset local groups who saw power, traditional life threatened
  • 3. Amerindians disliked efforts to bring them into modern economy
  • 4. Lay basis for independence

II. Napoleonic Invasion

• A. Napoleon invades Spain, 1807, "decapitating" the empire
• B. Peninsulares are afraid of creoles, unwilling to join with the in common response
• C. Nor did they like the Cadiz resistance government, which they saw as too liberal
• D. Deposed the Viceroy, who they regarded as too liberal

III. Revolt of Hidalgo

• A. Miguel Hidalgo (1753-1811)
  • 1. Parish priest in Dolores, Michoacan
  • 2. Had always been concerned with the social improvement of the community
  • 3. Much interested in new industries, new science of economics
• B. Grito de Delores - September 16, 1810 - Death to the gauchupines!
• C. Guadalajara Manifesto
  • 1. Envisioned an autonomous creole kingdom, but used King's name
  • 2. Based on resentment against Spanish authorities
  • 3. Focus on King, religion and country, but a very different, Mexico-centered version
  • 4. Abolition of special taxes on blacks, mestizos, Amerindians
  • 5. Called for the end of slavery
• D. Hidalgo's movement rapidly evolved into an Indian rebellion and race war
• E. Despite initial successes, captured and executed as an enemy to property and social order

IV. Revolt of Jose Maria Morelos

• A. Jose Maria Morelos (1765-1815)
  • 1. Parish priest, mestizo
  • 2. Former student of Morelos
  • 3. Brilliant tactician and statesman
• B. Continued social conscience of Morelos
  • 1. Inspired to join Hidalgo when ordered to publish a ban of excommunication
  • 2. Abolished tariffs, distributed land, proclaimed abolition, burned archives
  • 3. Called a Congress, September 1813
    • a. Congress declared Independence again
    • b. Wrote a half-hearted Constitution, October 1814
    • c. Morelos himself more radical and determined
  • 4. Profoundly nationalist
  • 5. Sought to exclude Penisulares, promoted a racial unity
  • 6. Styled himself as a defender of the true Church against ravages of Spain
  • 7. Promoted the Indian Virgin de Guadelupe over Ferdinand VII as symbol of nation
• C. Captured and executed in 1815

V. Restoration

• A. Ferdinand VII restored to power in 1814
  • 1. Highly reactionary
  • 2. Peninsulares, who had thought of separation from Liberal Cadiz, supported this
  • 3. Gained loyalty of Penisulares, most creoles
• B. Guerilla War (1815-1820)
  • 1. Spanish unable to send new troops
  • 2. Creole and Pensulare officers at head of mestizo army fought guerillas
  • 3. Most important rebel is Vicente Guerrero

VI. Reaction

• A. Liberal government seizes power in Spain, 1820
  • 1. banditry, social disintegration, undermined royal authority
  • 2. Ferdinand finds his power deeply diminished
• B. Ferdinand himself suggests Mexican independence, thinking he'll come to Mexico
• C. Creoles worried that Liberal government will threaten their position
• D. What happens next is complicated
  • 1. Agustin de Iturbide (1783-1824) sent to defeat Guerrero
  • 2. Parleys with him, produces the plan de Iguala
    • a. Three Guarantees
      • i. Independence
      • ii. Monarchy offered to Ferdinand, but if not....
      • iii. Roman Catholicism
    • b. Something for everyone
  • 3. Convinces new Viceroy to go along
  • 4. But Ferdinand reject plan
  • 5. Congress declares Iturbide Emperor in 1822
  • 6. Ticks everyone off, forced to abdicate 1823, executed a year later

VII. What is the Independence?

• A. Produced by two groups
  • 1. One wanted no interference in old system
  • 2. Another wanted to create a new order
• B. These became the two groups that dominated politics up to 1910
  • 1. Centralists/Conservatives
    • a. Wanted industry
    • b. Protected the Catholic Church
    • c. Wanted a strong central government
    • d. Distrusted USA, looked to Europe for guidance
  • 2. Federalists/Liberals
    • a. Wanted more power for provincial governments
    • b. Distrusted Europe, Spain, looked to USA for guidance
    • c. Against special privileges for Church and soldiers
    • d. Against cooperate structures - guilds, Church land, ejidos

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