Mexican independence September 16, 1810

Background The idea for Mexican independence from Spain dates back to shortly after Hernán Cortés entered Tenochtitlán, today Mexico City, in 1519. Starting in 1808, Spain was involved in a war with Napoleon and the French Empire. Many Mexicans, including parish priest Miguel Hidalgo, did not want Spain’s military acts to affect Mexican interests. It was one of the main causes of the declaration of Mexican independence.

Miguel Hidalgo Father Hidalgo was a criollo—Mexican-born Spaniard—who worked with Ignacio de Allende to conspire a revolt against the Spanish crown. When their plan leaked, Hidalgo took a drastic action to formally declare independence from Spain. At about 6am on September 16, 1810, Hidalgo and his men gathered on the steps on the church in the city of Dolores to cry for independence.

Grito de Dolores The exact words of the original grito delivered by Hidalgo remain unknown, but historians agree that Hidalgo rallied the Mexicans to reclaim the land that the Spaniards stole from them over three hundred years ago and to stand up for their own religion and patriotic beliefs.

The war The war for independence lasted from September 16, 1810 to September 27, 1821. One of the first battles of the war was the Battle of Monte de las Cruces, where the Mexicans won. Rebels continued to fight the Spanish army in other parts of Mexico. In January 1811, the Spanish defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of the Bridge of Calderón, and the Mexicans had to flee towards the U.S. However, they were intercepted by the Spanish army and Hidalgo was captured and eventually executed on July 3, 1811.

The war After the execution of Hidalgo, José María Morelos took over leadership of the Mexican army. He was captured and executed in 1815. Between 1815 and 1821, the two nations were mostly engaged in guerrilla warfare—a type of warfare that involves small ambushes and military tactics rather than full-blown battles.

Independence In 1820, the viceroy—a royal official who runs a colony as a representative of the king—ordered Agustín de Iturbide to stop some disturbances in Oaxaca. Iturbide's time in Oaxaca coincided with a military coup—an overthrow of the government—in Spain. Motivated by this, Iturbide switched allegiances and began to negotiate a compromise.

Independence In early 1821, Itúrbide proclaimed three principles (“guarantees”) of Mexican independence. Mexico would be an independent sovereign nation but it would be a monarchy governed by a Spaniard or other European prince. Criollos and Peninsulares (Spaniards) would keep their social and economic privileges. Roman Catholicism would remain the official religion of Mexico.

Independence In 1821 the viceroy resigned when it became obvious that there was widespread support for Iturbide’s three guarantees. On September 27, 1821, the Army of Three Guarantees—formed to set forth of terms of Iturbide, entered Mexico City and declared official independence of the Mexican Empire.