Culmination of the Mexican War of Independence Consumación de la Independencia
The Mexican War of Independence, which began in 1810 with Miguel Hidalgo’s call to arms, came to its final chapter in 1821, following over a decade of social upheaval, armed conflict, and shifting alliances. The culmination was not marked by a single decisive battle but rather by a gradual and strategic consolidation of forces that brought an end to Spanish colonial rule.
By the early 1820s, the war had changed in character. Earlier revolutionary leaders like Hidalgo and José María Morelos had been executed, and the independence movement had fragmented into regional guerrilla efforts. Meanwhile, discontent was also growing among conservatives, Creoles, and segments of the clergy who had once supported Spanish authority.
The turning point came in 1820, when a liberal revolution in Spain forced King Ferdinand VII to reinstate the Spanish Constitution of 1812. This alarmed conservative elites in New Spain, who feared the loss of their privileges under liberal reforms. In response, an unexpected alliance was formed between the conservative royalist general Agustín de Iturbide and the insurgent leader Vicente Guerrero.
In early 1821, Iturbide and Guerrero agreed on the Plan of Iguala, a political proposal that outlined three central principles: independence from Spain, the preservation of the Roman Catholic religion, and equality between Spaniards and Creoles. This plan sought to unite various factions across the political spectrum and presented a vision of an independent Mexico with a constitutional monarchy.
Iturbide’s forces, now known as the Army of the Three Guarantees, marched across the country, gaining support and facing minimal resistance. On September 27, 1821, the army triumphantly entered Mexico City, effectively sealing the victory of the independence movement.
The next day, September 28, 1821, the Act of Independence of the Mexican Empire was officially declared. Spain, however, would not formally recognize Mexico’s independence until 1836.