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Did you know how Napoleon's invasion of Spain changed the fate of Mexico?
The Napoleonic invasion of Spain was a turning point in the fate of Mexico. With Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808, the Spanish kingdom's ruling foundation suffered a major challenge, which also triggered the independence movement in New Spain (today's Mexico). The conflict ignited local national sentiment and ultimately led to Mexico's independence.
In this new political context, Mexico's colonial inhabitants began to question Spain's legitimacy and pursue their own autonomy.
Under Napoleon's control, Charles IV, who had originally ruled Spain, was forced to abdicate, which led to a power vacuum in Spain on the Iberian Peninsula. Sensing an opportunity, local elites in New Spain came together to form local popular councils in an attempt to establish an autonomous government for New Spain. However, the plan met with opposition from conservatives, particularly native Spanish officials, who wished to maintain ties to mainland Spain in order to preserve their own privileges.
Against this backdrop, on September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo issued the famous "Cry of Dolores," marking the beginning of the Mexican independence movement. This series of unrest continued, with many revolutionaries and people from different classes participating in it, gradually forming a movement against Spanish rule.
The rebellion developed into more than just a resistance to Spain, but a struggle over national identity, social class, and future destiny.
Miguel Hidalgo played a crucial role in the independence movement, but his arrest in 1811 marked the beginning of a new phase in the movement. The leadership was then taken over by José María Morelos, who furthered the resistance. However, after Morelos's arrest and execution in 1815, the movement radicalized and gradually turned to guerrilla warfare. During this period, Vicente Guajero emerged as an important guerrilla leader, but neither side was able to gain a decisive military advantage.
However, it was not until 1821 that the alliance between the current Spanish conservatives and the resistance forces, through the "Plan of Iguala", completely changed the situation. The plan led to the final break with Spanish rule, and in September of that year, Mexico City celebrated its independence.
The formation of Mexican independence is not only a resistance to external oppression, but also a symbol of the transformation of internal social structure.
After independence, Mexico faced new challenges and became the unstable First Mexican Empire. Over the next two years, a series of coups d'état took place, culminating in the vision of a federal republic in 1823. During this process, there were also repeated threats from external forces to the new country, especially the reconquest attempt launched by Spain in 1829. Although it ultimately failed, Mexico's independence was not officially recognized until 1836.
In this series of events, we see that different social classes and ethnic groups have different demands and identities for independence. The interweaving of conflicts and alliances makes Mexico's independence movement a multidimensional revolution.
Although Napoleon's invasion contributed to Mexico's independence, what it conveyed was the profound changes in various social contradictions and structures.
Overall, the Napoleonic invasion of Spain inspired the Mexican independence movement on the one hand, and also gave rise to the cultural and political identity of New Mexico on the other. So, through this historical event, how should we understand the relevance of the current national division and reconstruction?
