- In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain and deposed the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII.
- This created a power vacuum in Mexico, as the viceroy, who had been appointed by the Spanish king, was no longer in power.
2. The Hidalgo Revolt
- In September 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest, led a rebellion against Spanish rule.
- Hidalgo's army quickly grew to over 80,000 men, but they were poorly trained and equipped.
- The Spanish army eventually defeated Hidalgo's forces, and he was executed in July 1811.
3. The Morelos Revolt
- After Hidalgo's death, José María Morelos y Pavón took over the leadership of the independence movement.
- Morelos was a brilliant military strategist, and he won a number of victories against the Spanish army.
- In November 1813, Morelos convened a congress in Chilpancingo, which declared Mexico's independence from Spain.
- Morelos was captured and executed by the Spanish army in December 1815.
4. The Iturbide Plan
- After Morelos' death, the independence movement was led by a group of Creole elites, including Agustín de Iturbide.
- In 1821, Iturbide and the Spanish viceroy, Juan O'Donojú, signed the Treaty of Córdoba, which recognized Mexico's independence from Spain.
- Iturbide became the first emperor of Mexico in 1822, but he was overthrown in 1823.
- Since then Mexico has been a republic.
