Let’s take a look at the history of one of the most significant independent movements of Latin America: Mexico.
So, how did it happen? Well, to understand that we have to remember how society during the colony worked. We had different levels of “class” depending on ethnicity and birthplace, based on that they determined categories (known as Castas) and you were treated accordingly.
The peninsulares (Spaniards or whites) were at the top, followed by criollos (children on Spaniards born in America), then you had mestizos (mixed), castizos, and so forth. This system was primarily created for economic reasons, because the native people and black people shipped from Africa were at the bottom and so, they had no purpose other than work.
You might think those at the bottom were responsible for independence, but you’d be mistaken. It was actually the criollos, who were tired of sharing the riches of the land with Spain, who started the movement. The main figures to remember in this process are priests Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and José María Morelos.
Hidalgo declared independence on September 16th. 1810 by liberating a group of prisoners in the town of Dolores and ringing the church bell. That’s how it all began and after that, you know how it goes: battles for years until finally, independence was official in 182, with the first independent government led by criollo General Agustin de Iturbide.
Have fun learning!
