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Period: to
War for Independence
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La Conspiración (Initiation)
Juan de Aldama, military man; Miguel Domínguez, former corregidor, and his wife, Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, "La Corregidora"; Epigmenio González, a grocer; Marino Galván, a postal clerk; and a few others organized a "literary club". In reality they were plotting the separation of the New Spain form the old. They set a date to begin the fight for indepence, making the creation of this group crucial for the movement. -
Uncovering Arms & Ammunition (Resistance)
Eventhough the conspirators were admonished to hold their tounges, Marino Galván, the postal clerk, leaked the news to his superior. his superior informed the audiencia in Mexico City. The Spanish authorities searched the house of Epigmenio González in Querétaro and found arms and ammunition and ordered the immediate arrest of González. -
Grito de Dolores (Consolidation)
Doña Josefa, "La Corregidora" entrusted Ignacio Pérez with the task of carrying the news of the arrest to Ignacio Allende in San Miguel. When the message was delivered, they realized that orders for their arrest had propably been issued and decided to strike for independence. Hidalgo ran the church bells and the war for independence began. -
Outbreak of Alhóndiga de Granaditas (Consolidation)
Hidalgo began his approach to Guanajuato. He was joined by hundreds of workers from the surrounding silver mines. As the first wave of foot solidiers rushed the improvised fortress, Riaño gave the order to open fire. Hundreds of rebels were cut down by the intendant's artillery. Before the second assault began, Riaño led the group of soldiers outside the wall. The attackers led by "El Pípila", burned the wooden gate which helped Hidalgo's army and made him a hero. -
Monte de las Cruces (Consolidation)
By late October, Hidalgo had an army of about eighty thousand marching on Mexico City. The anticipated battle took place on Monte de las Cruces where Hidalgo proved that sheer numbers could overcome a small, well-equiped, and disciplined professional army. The Spaniards were forced to retreat back into the city while Hidalgo planned his next move. -
Forces Meet (Consolidation)
Moving northwest toward Guadalajara, many of the rebel troops, their greatest opportunity began to desert. At the same time Spanish forces under General Félix Calleja started to regroup. Guadalajara fell to the insurgents unopposed, but the royalist troops from the south caught up with the rebels. -
Hidalgo & Allende's Capture (Consolidation)
Captured by Governor Manuel Salcedo of Texas, the rebels were marched in chains to Chihuahua, where Allende and the other ninclerical leaders were immediately excecuted as traitors. Because Dolores Hidalgo was a priest, he was subjected to an ardous trial conducted under the auspices of the Holy Office of the Inquisition. FInding him guilty of heresy and treason, the court turned him in for excecution. -
Congress of Chilpancingo (Consolidation)
By spring, the circle was completed, and the capital was isolated from both coasts. Morelos then called for a congress to meet in Chilpancing (Guerrero) to dicuss plans for the nation once the Spaniards were driven out. -
José María Morelo's Capture (Consolidation)
General calleja and his Spanish army assumed a new military offensive. In six month's time the Spaniards broke the circle around Mexico City. The delegates hurriedly packed their bags and moved to more secure environs og Agatzingán where they promulgated the constitution. Morelos became more and more of a fugitive than the commander of the rebel force. He was then captured by an enemy detachment and escorted to Mexico City where he was tried for treason. -
Plan de Iguala (Consummation)
Agustin de Itrubide and Vicente Guerrero betrayed the Spaniards and anter many conferences created the Plan de Iguala. The plan contained 23 articles but only three major guarantees. To uphold the promises, a new army the Ejército de las tres garantías (the army of the three guarantees) would be placed directly under the Iturbide's command. -
Treaty of Córdoba (Consummation)
The highest-ranking Spanish official in New Spain had recognized Mexican independence. But Iturbide, thinking of the future, incorporated into the treaty of Córdoba one important modification. If no suitbale European monarch could be persuaded to accept the Mexican crown, a Mexican congress could choose a New World emperor instead. -
War for Independence Ends
Iturbide's triumphal entry into Mexico City marked the eleven years of war. The Gaceta Imperial de México proclaimed theatrically that not even Rome in its days of grandeur had ever witnessed such an exultant spectacle. Upon recieving gold keys to the city the commander-in-chief explained that hey would be used to lock the doors of irreligion, disunion, and depotism and to open the doors of happiness.
