Historical independence

History: Mexico

From the 1821 Act of Independence to Spain's formal recognition of Mexican independence in 1836.

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The Mexican War of Independence

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla launched the independence struggle with the "Cry of Dolores" on 16 September 1810; after his 1811 execution, José María Morelos led a second phase until his own 1815 execution, and fighting continued until 1821. Published casualty estimates vary widely, from roughly 250,000 to 600,000 total deaths; no single figure is treated as authoritative.[1]

· Conflict episode

Mexican War of Independence, 1810-1821

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla launched the independence struggle with the "Cry of Dolores" on 16 September 1810; after his 1811 execution José María Morelos led a second phase until his own 1815 execution, and the war continued until 1821. Published casualty estimates vary widely, from roughly 250,000 to 600,000 total deaths.

The Plan of Iguala and Treaty of Córdoba

Agustín de Iturbide proclaimed the Plan of Iguala on 24 February 1821, advocating an independent constitutional monarchy; he and Spanish viceroy Juan O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba on 24 August 1821, ratifying the plan and providing for the withdrawal of Spanish forces.[2]

· Agreement

Plan of Iguala and Treaty of Córdoba, 1821

Agustín de Iturbide proclaimed the Plan of Iguala on 24 February 1821, advocating an independent constitutional monarchy; he and Spanish viceroy Juan O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba on 24 August 1821, ratifying the plan and providing for the withdrawal of Spanish forces.

The 1821 declaration

Following the entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees into Mexico City, the Supreme Provisional Government Junta declared on 28 September 1821 that Mexico "is a Sovereign nation and independent of old Spain."[3]

· Declaration

Act of Independence of the Mexican Empire, 1821

Following the entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees into Mexico City, the Supreme Provisional Government Junta declared Mexico a sovereign and independent nation on 28 September 1821, signed by 33 board members and Agustín de Iturbide.

Spanish recognition

Spain did not recognise this declaration and attempted reconquest over the following decade, before finally recognising Mexican independence in the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty, signed 28 December 1836.[4]

· Agreement

Spanish Recognition of Mexican Independence, 1836

Spain formally recognised Mexico as a "free, sovereign, and independent nation" in the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty, signed in Madrid on 28 December 1836, fifteen years after Mexico's declaration.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: Parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla launched the Mexican independence struggle with the "Cry of Dolores" on 16 September 1810; royalist forces captured and executed him in July 1811. A second phase of the insurgency was led by Father José María Morelos, captured and executed in 1815, with fighting continuing until 1821. Published casualty estimates for the war vary widely, from roughly 250,000 to 600,000 total deaths; no single figure is treated as authoritative.

  2. 2.

    Claim: Agustín de Iturbide proclaimed the Plan of Iguala (the "Plan Trigarante") on 24 February 1821, advocating an independent Mexico as a constitutional monarchy, preservation of the Catholic Church's and military's existing privileges, and equal rights for creoles and peninsulares. On 24 August 1821, Iturbide and Spanish viceroy Juan O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba at Córdoba, Veracruz, ratifying the Plan of Iguala and providing for the withdrawal of remaining Spanish forces.

  3. 3.

    Claim: On 28 September 1821, the Supreme Provisional Government Junta adopted the Act of Independence, stating that "the Mexican Nation, which for three hundred years had neither had its own will, nor free use of its voice, leaves today the oppression in which it has lived," and concluding that Mexico "is a Sovereign nation and independent of old Spain with which henceforth it will maintain no other union besides a close friendship." The Act was signed by 33 members of the Provisional Governmental Board and by Agustín de Iturbide as President of the Regency.

    • Wikipedia contributors, Declaration of Independence (Mexico) (Wikipedia, 28 September 1821) link, declaration text and signatories. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: Spain formally recognised Mexican independence in the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty, signed in Madrid on 28 December 1836 by Miguel Santa María for Mexico and José María Calatrava for Spain, under which the Spanish monarchy recognised Mexico as a "free, sovereign, and independent nation" and established diplomatic relations. This came fifteen years after Mexico's 1821 declaration; the Spanish Congress had repudiated the Treaty of Córdoba as "illegal, null, and void" in February 1822, and Spain attempted to reconquer Mexico over the following decade.

    • Wikipedia contributors, Santa María–Calatrava Treaty (Wikipedia, 28 December 1836) link, article text. Source record

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/mexico/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.