1. The Start of Mexican Independence

2. The Fight
Some people were focused on freeing Texas, other wanted to continue fighting for Mexican Independence
Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon took up where Father Hidalgo left off
He was a strong military leader, won numerous battles and gained control of Mexico for a short time...he was executed in 1815 though

3. Spain wins….NOT SO FAST!
Seemed as though Mexico had no shot at lasting independence, but a new group rises to power and the Spanish loyalists changed sides!
Agustin de Iturbide was the dominating force that turned the tides.
He originally led the forces that overtook Morelos but didn’t want to be overthrown so he joined the rebels and declared:
Mexico would be free from Spain
All people in Mexico would be equal
The Roman Catholic church would be the religion of Mexico (sound familiar??)
Together the armies of Iturbide and Guerrero overtook Spanish forces in 1821

4. Causes and Effects of Mexican Independence
Why the need for a fight??
Widespread economic and social divisions between rich and poor, European and American born Spaniards
Political corruption
Examples of other revolutions to follow
Poor communication with Spain
Drought and famine were causing panic
What was the outcome?
Creation of Mexico as an independent Republic
Economic ruin and loss of life
Political instability
Attempts to increase the population by allowing immigration from the US (uhh ohhh!)
Efforts to increase economic development by opening trading lines with US

5. How did Mexico look after the war?
Only 3,000 Tejanos were left in Texas after the war (down ⅔ from 10 years ago)
Most remaining Tejanos lived in San Antonio or Goliad (previously known as La Bahia), or along the Western Rio Grande...Nacogdoches was deserted
Remember the names Erasmo Seguin and Jose Antonio Navarro
They had to flee during the Gutierrez and Magee expeditions and lost everything but they will be influential in the TX Revolution
Seguin eventually serves as the postmaster and in city government

6. Ranching and Raids on the Rise
Right after the war ranching was difficult due to loss of livestock and crops being destroyed but it rebounded quickly
A steady horse trade and access to US markets were a big help
About 30,000 Natives still lived in TX but the war (and Tejanos) had not been kind to them
Attacks (retaliation) were on the rise after the war was over
To protect their ranches wealthy ranchers built stone houses with walls, shutters and bars over their windows and some (out west) built more homes of adobe...this really did not work

7. What’s Next? What will life on the Mexican frontier look like?
How will the Mexican government settle Texas? Will that be different than how Spain did it?
If people start coming from the US what will that mean for the Mexican government?
Will we find ourselves on another road to revolution?? ?