FREE ESSAY ON MEXICAN REVOLUTION

MEXICAN REVOLUTION

Many revolutionary movements are similar in a way. The revolutionary movements in Mexico,
Venezuela, and Brazil have many similar characteristics. All of these countries gained
their independence from a European power. As many things are similar, there are also some
differences in them. With these three countries there is a different way in which they
gain their independence.
Mexican independence was won from Spain through two revolutions (1810 and 1821). Mexico
was governed by Spanish viceroys for almost three centuries before gaining its
independence. Spain had enforced a law excluding creoles or American-born Spaniards in
Mexico from rights given to those who emigrated from the mother-country. This caused
irritation between the two classes. The Viceroy showed little concern. Mexican people,
however were actually giving the Madrid government money needed in the Napoleonic wars.
Napoleon's invasion of Spain accelerated a revolution toward which that country had been
steadily driving for Mexican subjects. Mexico at this time was Spain's richest and most
populous country.
The first stage of Mexican revolution took place in the Bajo region of north-central
Mexico. Mexico, the Bajo region, was already afflicted with high prices when the news of
Napoleon's invasion of Spain reached. On September 16, 1810 father Miguel Hidalgo y
Costilla, a priest of some talent, urged the crowd to rise up against the Spanish
officials. Under Hidalgo's leadership, his people attacked ranches and mines that
exploited them. The Viceroy, Vanegas, took several measures to suppress the insurrection.
Hidalgo had the whole country north of Queretaro on his side. On October 24, 1810,
Hidalgo was proclaimed generalissimo of the Mexican armies. Hidalgo and his army was
excommunicated by the archbishop. Hidalgo, being a priest himself, easily persuaded his
troops that an excommunication pronounced by their enemies could not avail against them,
but the people who were at a distance abandoned a cause to which was attacked so dreadful
a penalty. Many wealthy Mexicans at first supported Hidalgo, but soon recognized the
threat that the angry masses who followed Hidalgo so they supported the Spanish
authorities. 
In a battle at Puerto de Calderon on January 17, 1811, Hidalgo's army was totally
defeated. Hidalgo retreated to San Luis Potosi where he was followed closely by his
enemies. Hidalgo was soon captured and removed to Chihuahua where, after a form of a
trial, he was shot (June 20, 1811). Hidalgo was deprived of his priest's orders before he
was executed. The death of Hidalgo, however, did not impede the progress of the
revolution.
Maria Morelos, a former student of Hidalgo, continued the revolution. He and his force
was victorious in several actions fought in the south against the Royalists. He
successively captured the towns of Chilapa, Techucan, Orizaba, and Oaxaca, and shortly
afterwards Acapulco fell into his power. Morelos next convened a congress assembled at
Apatzinjan, in the Province of Valladoid. They framed a constitution and planned to
suspend hostilities and to enter a treaty with the Royalist, but it was rejected and
scorned. Morelos soon afterwards led an attack on Valladoid. He and his army was
unsuccessful and had to retreat. Morelos was soon captured on November 5, 1815 in a place
called Tapecuacuilco. He was conducted back to Mexico where he was executed on December
22, 1815 at San Cristobal.
A creole by the Name of Colonel Agustin Iturbide was next to form an alliance with the
remaining insurgents and declared Mexico's independence in 1821. Iturbide has been
appointed by the viceroy to command to army destined to crush the remnant of the
insurgent forces. He was furnished with money and he seized on a convoy of species
belonging to the Manila merchants. As soon as revolutionist took possession of the
capitol, a junta, composed of thirty-six members, was appointed, a regency of five
prisoners was chosen, of which Iturbide was made president. He was also appointed
admirals and generalissimo of the navy and army. He was assigned a yearly salary of one
hundred twenty thousand dollars. Hidalgo, Morelos and Iturbide were intricate parts of
Mexico's revolutions.
Just as Hidalgo, Morelos, and Iturbide were intricate parts of the Mexican revolution,
Simon Bolivar played an intricate role in Venezuela's revolution. Bolivar was put in
command of Puerto Cabello, but the Spanish forces were too much for and he was driven out
by Spanish General Juan Domingo Monteverde. Monteverde defeated the entire army and
captured Francisco Miranda, its leader. Bolivar , however fled to Curacao. When Bolivar
returned, he defeated Monteverde at Lanaguanes. He had also captured Caracus in August of
1813. Bolivar also had victories at Ararue, La Victoria, and San Mateo. Bulivar also had
a victory at Carabobo befor he was defeated by Boves at La Puerta. Bolivar was given
another revolutionary command at New Granada, the place where he fled after his defeat.
Bolivar again returned back to Venezuela in 1816. He led a new movement against Morillo.
An important victory for Bolivar came near Barcelona. Bolivar at this point was
recognized as the commander in chief. He planned to raise the country against the
Spanish. At the Battle of Boyaca, Bolivar outmaneuvered Spanish Colonel Barreira, placing
his troops between Barreiro and the capital. Bolivar's army completely routed the Spanish
calvary. Ther were many killed, over a thousand prisoners, and all the Spaniard's heavy
weapons were taken. This was the decisive battle of the revolution. Bolivar liberated
Venezuela, Columbia, and Ecuador. He defeated the last spanish armies in 1824 and
Venezuela was declared independent in 1829.
Mexico and Venezuela achieved independence through an excess amount of fighting. However,
Brazil acquired its independence through no bloodshed, and kept it with credit. When King
John VI arrived in Brazil, he found himself obliged to assent to a constitution which
treated his Brazilian subjects as mere colonists. Succeeding mails brought orders more
and more humiliating to the Brazilians. The thought or design of Brazil becoming
independent was growing more and more in public favour. The term Independence ou morte
was adopted as the watch word of the revolution. It was mentioned by Prince Pedro at a
council. In 1822, Pedro declared fbrazilian independence. Brazil established a
constitutional maonarchy with Pedro as the emperor. The monarch survived until Pedro II
was overthrown by republicans in 1889.
Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela all gained their independence in the 1800s. Their strive to
independence was made possible by Napolean' s attack on Spain and Portugal. Venezuela and
Mexico gained their independence through violence, while Brazil gained their independence
the non-violent way. Theses countries had a main centerpiece to revolve their revolution
around. These centerpieces are considered heroes in these three countries. Also, Brazil
and Venezuela had slaves in their army because they promised that they would help end
slavery. These revolutionary movements have made modern day Mexico, Venezuela, and Brazil
the countries that they are today