1. Independence Movements
Independence movements in the Americas: political, economic, social, intellectual and religious causes; the role of foreign intervention; conflicts and issues leading to war.

2. Where to Start? Yup, Europe Who are the major players in the Americas?
SPAIN!
ENGLAND!
FRANCE!
PORTUGAL!
KLINGONS!

3. The Peninsular War Peninsular War (1807-1814)
Napoleon’s French forces successful, but stretched thin
Spanish royalty displaced
Guerrilla war
Spanish Constitution of 1812
Cadiz Cortes
Goal: Create legitimacy in Spain
Liberalism

4. Mexican Independence Political and Economic Changes in Europe
Napoleonic Wars (Sound familiar?)
Spain’s attention diverted
Leadership in Mexico
Peninsulares
Church and Government positions
Creoles
Outnumbered Peninsulares 10-1

5. Disruption in the Americas
Creoles and Peninsulars jockey for control
Creoles move first (1808)
Mexico City cabildo calls on viceroy to call assembly
Free trade
Home rule (not independence)
Abolition of the Inquisition/Fuero
Measures to reform industry, mining, agriculture

6. The ‘Elite’ Strikes Back
Peninsulars threatened
de Yermo leads coup
Ousts viceroy
Creoles do not respond…
Why?... Bajio Region
Economic Factors
Agriculture dominated by large estates
Textiles  putting out system
Lucrative mining

7. Bajio’s Role “Free Labor” creates a worker class conscious
External factors cause decline
Creates resentment and insecurity
“Marginal Elites” plot revolt in Queretaro
How to gain support? Who?
Plotters betrayed…

8. Hidalgo September 16th, 1810 300 years of oppression
Father Miguel Hidalgo (Creole)
Orders the arrest of local Peninsulars
300 years of oppression
Thousands march on Guanajuato
The Virgin of Guadalupe
Creole domination or thirst for revenge?

9. El Grito El Grito de Dolores
Becomes the battle cry of the war
Uttered by Hidalgo
My children: a new dispensation comes to us today. Will you receive it? Will you free yourselves? Will you recover the lands stolen three hundred years ago from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards? We must act at once… Will you defend your religion and your rights as true patriots? Long live our Lady of Guadalupe! Death to bad government! Death to the gachupines! (peninsulars)