For over 300 years, Mexicans lived under Spanish colonialism, and endured all the hardships and inequalities that came with it. However, on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, delivered his Grito de Dolores, which initiated the Mexican War of Independence. This revolutionary movement demanded the redistribution of land, racial equality as well as the end of Spanish rule in Mexico. As a result, in the year of 1821, Mexico finally gains its independence from Spain. Mexico’s independence was acknowledged under the terms of the Plan de Iguala, which promised The slight changes in the system supposedly ended the three centuries of Spanish colonialism.
Nonetheless, regardless of Mexico’s independence from Spain after 1810, their system remained unstable due to the various socio-political issues such as financial problems, poor leadership, and the influence of white superiority, which did not allow Mexico to truly be free. Like all other nations, money is a key component in allowing a nation to function efficiently. After 300 grueling years of Spanish colonialism, Mexico declared its independence from Spain, but was left with a significant amount of financial and economic burdens. Mexico’s yield and income was mostly derived from their agriculture, and with most of their harvest and fields destroyed from the war, it is clear that many of the citizens of Mexico were left without food to consume due to the lack of crop supply.
Mexico’s economy was left in a dreadful state. Not only was their main food source depleted, but Mexico’s mining industry, which was known to be their “biggest asset,” left the country with an enormous debt of over “20 million pesos” (Menchaca 162). Unfortunately, a majority of the citizens in Mexico worked in the mines, and with the mines left in ruins as an outcome of the war, many were left unemployed. This seemed to have dug Mexico in an even deeper hole in terms of their economy because many of their people are left hungry and unemployed.
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As Mexico’s financial security plummeted, the nation’s political crisis emerged. With the Spanish crown finally overthrown, Mexico had to come up with a new plan to govern its people that would serve as the “blueprint for the New World” (Covarrubias, 10/17/18, Mexican Independence). As a result, “Vicente Guerrero (conservative) joined with Agustín de Iturbide (liberal), the commander of the royalist forces, and drew up the Plan of Iguala, which offered guarantees of religion, independence, and union” (Acuna 40). This meant having equal rights for creoles and peninsulares, Mexico becoming a monarchy, and diminishing the casta system.
Nevertheless, although the church no longer ruled the nation, they were still able to retain their privilege, which in other words still gave them power. This outcome sparked disappointment and frustration amongst citizens because the reason they rebelled was due to the “people’s desire to liberate themselves from the crown” (Gamboa, 10/31/18, Civil War and the Legacy of Slavery). Although this new enacted conservative plan was supposed to reunify Mexico, it would only assure and benefit the Mestizos (Spanish decent) meaning the rights of the lower class (Indios/Africans) would be completely ignored. This defeats the purpose of El Plan de Iguala because ultimately, the social equality that the people in Mexico desired was not achieved in any way.
As a result, the lack of political efficiency and governing led to the nation’s disorder. The ideology of white supremacy became a massive hindrance for Mexico’s ability to grow and develop as a nation. Not only did racial disparity and the color of skin fuel Mexico’s unstable political system, but it also played a significant role in trying to advance the nation. In addition to that, one of the main goals of Mexico was “to form a nation-state that would integrate the new nation’s varied population and regions” (Acuna 40). This meant that Mexico, just like their society before they were colonized, wanted to rekindle with the idea of having a communal society.
Due to the idea of various races deemed inferior, this became a difficult task for Mexico because “unlike the newly born United States, the Mexican nation was made up of different races, including a majority of Native Americans which made nation building harder” (Acuna 41). The social stigma that was brought upon the Spaniards to Mexico throughout the three centuries of colonization was mirrored by the Anglo-Americans that resided in the United States. The Spanish was able to execute this ideology through the use of a social heirarchical status called the Caste System, which then again sparked the idea of white superiority.
The period after Mexico proclaimed their independence was seen to be one of the most turbulent era in Mexican history. Mexico’s financial deficiencies as well as their inadequate government on top of white supremacy resulted in their nation’s disorder and instability. Although Mexico was “free” from the Spanish colonial rule in 1821, they were continuously bound by their financial and political crises. In addition to that, the white supremacy that lingered amongst Mexican Americans hindered the nation’s ability to progress, which makes it clear that Mexico was not truly free.
