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Grito de Dolores
In September 16th, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo rang his church bells in the town of Dolores and called to arms people of Mexico. His famous grito was: “Long live Religion! Long live our Blessed Mother Guadalupe! Long live Ferdinand VII and death to bad government!”
This event triggered the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. (pg. 117)
Picture: https://www.britannica.com/event/Grito-de-Dolores, Accessed 2 April 2025) -
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Casas Revolt in Texas
Started on January 21, 1811, in San Antonio, led by retired officer Juan Bautista de las Casas. He deposed Governor Manuel Salcedo in hopes of putting Texas behind the Mexican revolutionary movement. The rebellion was short-lived, and Father J. M. Zambrano later deposed Casas on March 17, 1811. This is important because it was one of the earliest displays of resistance to Spanish rule in Texas and it showed the growing rebellion that would lead to Mexico's independence. (118) -
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Father José María Morelos
Led Mexico's fight for independence after the execution of Hidalgo in 1811. He got control of most of southern Mexico and called a congress that declared independence from Spain. Morelos was a better military strategist than Hidalgo, but he struggled to gain the full backing of the criollo elite. He was taken prisoner and put to death in 1815. His leadership greatly contributed to pushing the independence cause forward, although his assassination came as a tremendous setback. (119) -
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The Last Years of Spanish Texas
In the fall of 1813, Tejanos Juan M. Veramendi, F. Arocha, Vicente Travieso, Francisco Ruiz, and Erasmo Seguin were made ineligible for amnesty after participating in the Gutiérrez de Lara republican rebellion. Tarín was still resisting Spanish authority in north Texas, stirring up Native Americans. The episode illustrates the struggle for independence and the harsh conditions during Spanish Texas' upheaval, showing the internal strife and the constant danger to both rebels and loyalists. (122) -
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Indigenous Involvement in the Texas Insurgency
Lipans, Tonkawas, Wichitas, and the Republican Army of the North joined the rebels in the fight for independence from Spain. This happened around 1813, during the Texas insurgency and Battle of Medina in San Antonio. These tribes supported the rebels as Spanish power weakened, hoping for better trade and autonomy. Their brief involvement reflects shifting alliances during Mexico’s fight for independence. (124) -
The Battle of Medina
The Battle of Medina was fought on August 18, 1813 along the Medina River in Texas; between the army of General Joaquín Arredondo and the Republican Army of the North, led by José Álvarez de Toledo. Arredondo's army defeated the rebels and killed most of the insurgents. It sealed the end of the first great movement towards Texas independence from Spain, reaffirming Spanish control over the region. (122) (Picture: https://sanantonioreport.org/finding-medina-the-battle-of-medina-revisited/) -
Battle of Three Trees and Karankawa Displacement
Jean Lafitte’s pirates and the Karankawa tribe
fought with each other. The Battle of Three Trees happened in 1817, in Galveston Island, Texas and it forced Karankawas off the island. This battle marked the end of the Karankawa presence on the island, highlighting growing tensions and violence as outsiders pushed native tribes off their lands during the chaotic post-Spanish period. (124) Picture: Texas crossroads of North America pg. 125 -
Henry Perry’s Failed Invasion
The invasion was made in June 18, 1817 by, Henry Perry, Spanish Governor Antonio Martínez, and the Spanish forces. Perry led an invasion into Texas, aiming to challenge Spanish rule, but was defeated by Spanish forces near La Bahía. This event highlights Texas’s vulnerability to external threats and Spain’s weakening grip over the province amid growing insurgent and foreign interventions. (126) Picture: google.com -
French Settlement at Champ d’Asile
In 1818, French Napoleonic exiles, led by Charles Lallemand, established a fort called Champ d'Asile near present-day Liberty, Texas. They wanted to create a settlement, but it created suspicion instead. In order to drive them away Spanish troops were sent out, commanded by de Castañeda. But upon the arrival of the Spanish there, the French had already abandoned the fort. This event showed Spain's tenuous hold on Texas and the ongoing geopolitical struggles with France, America, and Spain.(126) -
The end of Spanish Era
In August 1821, Spanish officials and Tejano leaders in Béxar and La Bahía took the vow of allegiance to make Mexico independent. This marked the end of Spanish rule over Texas, resulting in the Mexican independence. This event was important because it showed the official collapse of Spanish authority in Texas after decades of continuous foreign invasions. (130) Picture: https://cdn.britannica.com/70/89970-004-5C88B7E5.jpg
