The Wars of Independence

A time for revolution or a chance for reform?

While the idea of heritage from the land was diminished in indigenous people, those of mixed heritage felt more than a little ownership of the land. This increased when interest from other European countries in the resources New Spain posed. At this time, Spain and New Spain was not interested in engaging with trade or other types of international relationships, unlike mid-19th century Mexico would be. However, countries such as England and France saw the revenue and trade relationships coming out of New Spain, and they began intercepting ships coming in and out of the port of Veracruz.[1] Though the attacks on ships happened infrequently and were small in scale, many colonists that lived in New Spain were concerned and resistant to French and English interference in their territory.

The distance between Spain and New Spain began to create more of a strain on the internal structure of New Spain. For example, a priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, became to express dissent regarding the foreign rule of Spain. Eventually, word of his dissent and a conspiracy related to it would reach Spain and orders for his and his co-conspirators arrests would be issued. In response to this, Hidalgo gave a speech to ‘Indians’ and mestizos that boiled down to him calling the peasantry to arms. Though the exact speech is not known, part of it is referenced as: “Will you recover the lands stolen 300 years ago from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards?”[2] Although the Wars of Independence, as they would be called, was a fight to get someone to rule New Spain that either was born in New Spain or resided in New Spain. So, Hidalgo’s speech did follow the idea of heritage in land, but it did not have a direct correlation to the outcome of the Wars of Independence. However, it did start what would be over a hundred years of unrest with some intermittent peaceful periods.

Part of what came out of the Wars of Independence was the creation of plans. Starting with the Plan of Iguala by Agustin de Iturbide, these plans of various names would become essential to several revolutions, uprising, and movements. The Plan of Iguala provided a list of articles that ensured that Mexico would be able to function as an independent country, separate from Spain. There were several articles that were major guarantees that Iturbide ensured would happen, but there were two articles regarding the independence and ruling of Mexico, Articles 2 and 8. Article 2 says, “The absolute Independence of this Kingdom.” Article 8 says, “If Ferdinand VII decides not to come to Mexico, the Committee of the Regency shall govern in the name of the Nation until the matter of who shall be crowned king is resolved.”[3] Though it does not directly correlate to the idea of heritage in land, it does correlate to the origin of whoever was in charge of New Spain or Mexico and was the beginning of the pre-Agrarian movement.

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Full citations and bibliography can be found on the About Me page.

[1] Deeds, Meyer, and Sherman, The Course of Mexican History, 123.

[2] Deeds, Meyer, and Sherman, The Course of Mexican History, 226.

[3] Agustin de Iturbide, “Plan of Iguala,” In The Mexico Reader: History, Culture, Politics, ed. Gilbert M. Joseph and Timothy J. Henderson (London: Duke University Press, 2002), 194.