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hy was the “legitimacy of the king” a key factor in Mexican independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict that lasted more than a decade and had its roots in the political turmoil between the Spanish Empire and its most prized overseas possessions. When Napoleon's armies invaded Spain in 1808, disrupting the existing royal structure, the event provided nourishment for the Mexican independence movement. The legitimacy of the king, especially with regard to the impact of the turmoil in the Spanish royal family, became an important force leading Mexico to seek autonomy. This article will explore the background of this topic and how this legitimacy evolved into a major driver for independence.
Spain’s Legitimacy CrisisDuring the Spanish crisis, the "legitimacy of the monarchy" was challenged, which in turn affected the whole of New Spain.
In 1808, with the invasion of Napoleon and the abdication of King Charles IV of Spain, it became clear that the Spanish regime was fragile. The impact of this regime crisis reached far beyond Spain itself, sparking political turmoil in New Spain (present-day Mexico). Mexico's then-Vice King, Antonio Iturrigaray, failed to find a way to stabilize the situation during his term before the crisis. In the event of his removal, local court tribes expressed a desire for greater autonomy, a demand that essentially questioned the legitimacy of the Spanish central government.
Political consciousness began to emerge in New Spain, with many people beginning to believe that their legitimacy came from the support of the people rather than from a distant monarch.
The impact of cultural and racial conflicts
As society's doubts about the monarchy grew, cultural and racial conflicts began to surface. Mexico's social structure is clearly divided into classes. The "Peninsulars" from the Spanish mainland have a dominant position in politics and economy, while the "Creoles" (Spaniards born in the Americas) who were trained there have a dominant position in politics and economy. Feeling dissatisfied about not being able to achieve a higher political status. This situation has sparked a new understanding of Creoles' self-identity, prompting them to demand more political autonomy.
The Creole resistance was fundamentally a constant challenge to the "legitimacy of the monarchy" and a demand for changes to the existing political structure.
The early stages of the independence movement
On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo raised the banner of rebellion out of collective dissatisfaction with social injustice and political dissatisfaction. With the release of The Cry of Dolores, Mexico's independence movement officially began. Although the movement did not form a good organizational structure at first, it quickly attracted a large number of people to participate, forming a bottom-up resistance force and posing a strong challenge to Spanish rule.
The collapse of regime legitimacy
As several battles broke out, doubts about the legitimacy of Spanish rule grew. To make matters worse, the political situation in Spain became turbulent due to Napoleon's control. Against this background, Creoles and other social groups gradually realized the need to seek independence. In 1815, José María Morelos succeeded Hidagor and continued the independence movement, although he was also eventually arrested and executed.
The conduct of war is not only about the conflict of force, but also about the reinterpretation of national identity and legitimacy.
Final merger and independence
After 1815, the independence movement entered a period of guerrilla warfare until 1821, when the then Royal Army commander Agustín de Iturbi and Vicente Guerrero agreed on the Plan of Iguala. Here, the collaboration between the two parties marked the final challenge to the Spanish monarchy, forming a unifying force that quickly led to the collapse of Spanish rule and ultimately declared Mexico's independence.
ConclusionOverall, the "legitimacy of the king" played a crucial role in the entire Mexican independence movement. The turmoil and instability of the Spanish royal family caused social groups across the country to begin to reflect on and question the existing royal power structure, thereby promoting the process of independence. This movement is not only a political struggle, but also a search for identity and social channels. With the formation of modern nations, these issues continue to resonate in all sectors of society today. So, today, on a global scale, do doubts about the legitimacy of monarchy still exist in various countries and societies?
