-
Napoleon's Involvement in Spain
Napoleon Bonaparte's usurpation and installment of Joseph Bonaparte as King of Spain 1808 contributed to the political instability that reached the nation's American colonies. Napoleon's actions led Spaniards to revolt against French invasion, starting the War of Spanish Independence. The turmoil increased conspiracies in New Spain to overthrow the peninsulares' government, starting the War of Mexican Independence.
URL -
Grito de Dolores
The political instability in New Spain eventually led to Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's famous cry from his church in the town of Dolores. His grito did not directly declare Mexican independence, but it is recognized as a key event in the war, as it encouraged Mexicans to revolt and increased support of the insurrection. The words "Long live Ferdinand VII and death to bad government!" voiced what many Mexicans at the time felt (117).
photo -
Antonio Cordero Against Rebel Forces
In the northeastern provinces of New Spain, troops' loyalties remained conflicted. This changed in early January of 1811 when Antonio Cordero's command defected and his province faced 7,000-8,000 rebels. With royalist Cordero removed, his province allied with the insurgents, and more military units in the area revolting, Texas became the only northeastern Interior Province still under royal control (117).
URL -
The Casas Revolt
On this day, Juan Bautista de las Casas led the first Texan revolt against Spain in modern-day San Antonio. He helped depose Governor Salcedo, showed his support for King Ferdinand VII, sympathized with Hidalgo, and maintained communication with the insurgency. Although Casas was quickly overthrown himself, his actions contributed to tensions in Texas during the Mexican fight for independence.
URL -
Miguel Hidalgo is Captured
After a defeat, Hidalgo and his troops fled north to Texas in search of aid in the U.S. Hidalgo was then captured by royalists on March 21, 1811, marking a turning point in the war. After Hidalgo's execution, Father José María Morelos took the leadership role, helping the revolution with his realistic and better organized approach. Morelos officially declared independence and drafted Mexico's constitution, while also abolishing slavery (119).
URL -
Period: to
Battle of Rosillo and Salcedo's Surrender
This day marked a success for the insurgency, as the Republican Army of the North—led by José Bernardo Maximiliano Gutiérrez de Lara—took San Antonio. The event began on March 29, 1813 about 9 miles southeast of San Antonio with the Battle of Rosillo, in which 1,200 men led by Colonel Simon Herrera fought 800 of Gutiérrez de Lara's men. Because Salcedo had lost many supplies and men, he surrendered to the Republican Army of the North, a group supporting Mexico's freedom (120). -
Battle of Medina
This daylong battle involved royalist General Joaquín de Arredondo's army and 1,400 men of the Republican Army of the North.
URL -
-
-
