Consumación de la Independencia

By Dorothy Bell

This Day celebrates the end of the Struggle for Independence from Spain. September 27, 1821 Trigarante Army entered the Mexico City after more than three centuries of Spanish rule and 11 years and 11 days of fighting.

The Mexican War of Independence (1810–1821) and major events leading to independence

Father Miguel Hidalgo

·         ○    Began by Mexican born Spaniards, Mestizos and Mexican Indians

·         ○    September 16 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bell in the town of Delores and gave the Grito de Delores – the Cry of Delores – and arosed the congregation of peasants to fight for Indpendence

·         ○    September 28 Hidalgo’s Army reached Guanajuato and captured the gainer and killed many Spanish and Spanish Sympathizers.

·         ○    Fought and won many battles on the way to Mexico City and untrained, poorly armed recruits joined along the way –estimated at 80,000

·         ○    Won a battle outside of Mexico City but sustained heavy losses. Hidalgo’s army retreated to Guadalajara and then North towards the American Border

Ignacio Allende

·         ○    Hidalgo, Allende and the remaining army was captured in the northern state of Coahuila, where they were imprisioned and tried and executed by a firing squad. Hidalgo and Allende’s heads were cut off and then displayed on the corner of the Guanajuato grainery for 10 years

 ○    Jose Maria Morelos assumed leadership of the rebel forces and occupied Oaxaca and Acapulco.

○    In 1813 the city of Anahuac’s Congress signed Solemn Act of the Declaration of “Independence of Northern America". Morelos’ 23 points:

1. "America is free and independent of Spain and all other nations, governments, or monarchies."

2.The Catholic faith is the sole religion, and no others will be tolerated.

3. Ministers of religion to survive on tithes and first fruits, with the people owing only devotion and offerings.

4. Dogma as established by Church hierarchy: Pope, bishops, and priests.

5. Sovereignty emanates from the people and is placed in a Supreme National American Congress, made up of representatives from the provinces in equal numbers.

Jose Maria Morelos

6. Division of powers into appropriate executive, legislative, and judicial branches.

7. Representatives to serve rotating four year terms.

8.   Adequate remuneration for representatives, not exceeding 8000 pesos.

9.   Jobs to be reserved for Americans only.

10.        No foreigners to be admitted, unless they are artisans capable of sharing their skills and free of all suspicion.

11.        Liberal government to replace tyranny, with the expulsion of the Spaniards.

12.        Laws should promote patriotism and industry, moderate opulence and idleness, and improve the lot and the education of the poor.

13.        Laws should apply to all, with no privileges.

14.        Laws to be drafted and discussed by as many wise men as possible.

15.        That prohibit slavery forever, as the distinction of caste, being all equal and only vice and virtue distinguish an American from the other.

16.        Some of the nation's ports to be open to friendly foreign ships, subject to a 10% levy.

17.        Homes and property to be inviolable.

18.        Torture shall not be permitted.

19.        12 December to be dedicated to the Virgin of Guadalupe, and celebrated.

20.        Foreign troops should not enter the country and, if they do so to render assistance, may not approach the seat of government.

21.        No expeditions beyond the nation's borders to be permitted, particularly overseas expeditions; expeditions in the interior to spread the faith are allowed.

22.        An end to the payment of tributes; a tax of 5% or similar light amount to be levied.

23.        16 September to be consecrated as the anniversary of Independence

·         ○    Two years later in 1815 the Spanish captured Morelos and he was tried and executed for treason

Guadalupe Victoria

·       ○    Guadalupe Victoria from Puebla and Vicente Guerrero in Oaxaca resumed fighting

·        ○     In 1820 Colonel Agustin de Iturbide was sent to defeat Guerrero but instead switched sides and asked Guerrero to discuss renewed independence struggle

Vicente Guerrero

·         ○    Iturbide proclaimed the Plan of Iguala or Three "guarantees," for Mexican independence from Spain

·         ○    September 27 1821 the Army of the Three Guarantees entered Mexico City and the next day Iturbide declared the independence of the Mexican Empire

Agustin de Iturbide