COOP Lead up to Mexican Independence

Historia

Controlado por España

• New Spain (Mexico) was governed by a viceroy who represented the Spanish crown and was responsible for overseeing colonial administration. The Spanish crown (Charles IV of Spain 1788-1808) tightly controlled its colonies, and many aspects of daily life in Mexico were regulated by colonial authorities

Viceroy

Jose de Iturrigaray

1803-1809

Spanish-born whites and held positions of power in the colonial government and the Church.

Colonial born whites of Spanish descent born in Mexico, who were often excluded from the highest levels of political and economic authority. Owned mines, ranches, and haciendas.

Sociedad Colonial

• Mexican society was structured along racial and class lines.
• The people of New Spain were organized in to a racial based system called the Caste System.
• Penisulares (Gauchapines)

• Criollos

• Mestizos/Mulattos

• Indios/Negros

Impacto:

As the crown gave privileges to aristocrats, so not all people had equal rights. This generated anger among the local population and slowly led to a different sense of identity and aspirations for independence.

People of mixed Spanish and african ancestry

People of mixed Spanish and indigenous ancestry

Original inhabitants of the Americas not protected by royal officials

People of full African descent were prohibited by law to hold many positions

Causas Sociales

The Mexican War of Independence had several social causes that contributed to the desire for independence from Spanish colonial rule:

• Racial and Ethnic Hierarchies: The colonial society in New Spain was structured along racial and ethnic lines, with Spanish-born individuals (peninsulares) occupying the highest social positions, while those of mixed Spanish and indigenous descent (mestizos), indigenous populations, and African slaves were relegated to lower social statuses. These rigid hierarchies created social divisions and discrimination.

• Indigenous Exploitation: Indigenous communities in New Spain were subjected to forced labor, land dispossession, tribute payments, and cultural suppression. These policies and practices amounted to exploitation and oppression, leading to resentment and a desire for greater autonomy among indigenous populations.

• Social Inequality: Social and economic inequality was prevalent in colonial society. The Spanish elite, including peninsulares and criollos, controlled most of the wealth, land, and political power, while the majority of the population lived in poverty and had limited access to opportunities.

• Encomienda System: The encomienda system allowed Spanish settlers to extract labor and tribute from indigenous communities in exchange for protection and religious instruction. However, this system often led to the abuse and exploitation of indigenous laborers, contributing to social unrest.

• Influence of Enlightenment Ideas: Enlightenment ideals of liberty, equality, and the rights of individuals began to influence Mexican intellectuals and criollos, inspiring a desire for greater social justice and political rights.

These social causes, along with economic, political, and intellectual factors, converged to create the conditions for the Mexican War of Independence, which began in 1810.

Causas Políticas

The Mexican War of Independence had several political causes that contributed to the desire for independence from Spanish colonial rule:

• Napoleonic Wars and the Capture of the Spanish King: The invasion of Spain by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1808 and the subsequent capture of the Spanish king, Ferdinand VII, created a power vacuum in the Spanish Empire. This disruption in governance provided an opportunity for Mexican independence movements to gain momentum.

• Lack of Political Representation: One of the primary grievances among Mexicans was the lack of meaningful political representation in the colonial government. The Spanish crown held ultimate authority, and colonial officials were typically appointed from Spain, leaving criollos (those of Spanish descent born in the Americas) with limited access to positions of political power.

• Centralized Authority: The Spanish monarchy maintained tight control over the American colonies, including New Spain. This centralized authority limited local autonomy and decision-making, leading to frustration among colonial elites who desired more self-governance.

These social causes, along with economic, political, and intellectual factors, converged to create the conditions for the Mexican War of Independence, which began in 1810.

Causas Economicas

Economia

• By the 1750s, New Spains economy was deeply rooted in colonial practices such as Encomiendas/Haciendas and characterized by a combination of agriculture, mining, and trade. The Bourbon Reforms aimed to increase the economic productivity of the colonie and was structured to benefit Spain and colonial leaders which had a significant impact on the social and economic conditions in New Spain.

• Agriculture: New Spain's fertile lands produced a wide range of crops, including maize (corn), wheat, sugarcane, cotton, and various fruits and vegetables. Large agricultural estates, known as haciendas, were owned by the Spanish elite and worked by indigenous and mestizo laborers, often under exploitative conditions.

• Mining: New Spain was rich in mineral resources, particularly silver. The discovery of massive silver deposits in places like Zacatecas and Guanajuato had made New Spain one of the world's leading silver producers.

• Trade: New Spain was a crucial link in the Spanish global trade network. Goods produced in the colonies, such as silver, gold, agricultural products, and textiles, were exported to Spain. In return, Spain provided manufactured goods, including textiles, luxury items, and European products.

The Mexican War of Independence had several economic causes that contributed to the desire for independence from Spanish colonial rule:

• Economic Exploitation: The Spanish crown extracted significant wealth from New Spain (Mexico) through various means, including the encomienda and repartimiento systems, which forced indigenous populations to work under harsh conditions without fair compensation. This exploitation led to widespread poverty and discontent among indigenous and mestizo populations.

• Trade Restrictions: The Spanish crown imposed strict trade restrictions on New Spain, known as the mercantilist system. Only Spanish ships were allowed to engage in trade with the colony, and New Spain was limited in its ability to trade with other nations. This limited economic growth and opportunities for merchants and entrepreneurs.

• Monopolies and Taxes: Spain established royal monopolies on certain goods produced in New Spain, such as tobacco, silver, and mercury. The crown also imposed heavy taxes on various economic activities, including mining and agriculture. These taxes and monopolies contributed to economic hardships.

• Decline in Mining: While mining, particularly silver mining, had been a major source of wealth for New Spain, by the late 18th century, many of the richest silver mines were in decline. This led to economic difficulties and reduced revenues for the Spanish crown.

• Land Ownership and Haciendas: Much of the fertile land in New Spain was concentrated in large estates known as haciendas, owned by the Spanish elite. The indigenous and mestizo laborers who worked on these estates often faced exploitation and poverty. The unequal distribution of land and resources fueled social and economic disparities.

These economic grievances and disparities played a significant role in fueling the desire for Mexican independence. The economic challenges, coupled with the broader political and social discontent, led to the outbreak of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.

Revoluciones

Influencia de Guerras

These revolutions served as inspirations for many Mexican intellectuals and leaders who saw these events as examples of successful resistance against oppressive colonial regimes.

• American Revolution (1775-1783)

• French Revolution (1789-1799)

• Hatian Revolution (1804)

Últimos Pensamientos:

The Mexican War of Independence was primarily driven by a combination of social, political, economic, and intellectual factors.

These interconnected factors combined to ignite the Mexican War of Independence which help lead to the demise of nearly three centuries of Spanish colonial rule.

El Fin

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