Significant People
Revolution of 1810-1821
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (“the father of Mexican independence”), was a Catholic priest who started the Mexican Revolution. During his time in the city of Delores, Hidalgo and several other insurgents held secret meetings about the future revolution. On September 16, 1810, he issued his "Cry for Delores" which stated that Mexicans should come together and rebel against the Spanish government. On this day, thousands of Indians and Mestizos ran to Hidalgo’s flag of the Virgin of Guadalupe and pretty soon, Hidalgo and his peasant army marched through Mexico City. On October 30, 1810, Hidalgo and his army fought against the Spanish resistance in the Battle of Monte de las Cruces and achieved victory. However, Hidalgo’s army was defeated in Mexico City. He was captured by the Spanish army and executed on July 31, 1811, after he was found guilty of treason.
Ignacio Allende was a Mexican-born officer in the Spanish army who switched sides and joined Miguel Hidalgo in the fight for independence. Allende was with Hidalgo when he issued his famous “Cry for Delores”. Shortly after that, Allende, Hidalgo and their angry peasant army marched to the city of Guanajuato and murdered five hundred Spaniards and looted the city. After that, the rebel army made their way up to Mexico City. The Spanish army quickly gathered as many troops as they could to meet the insurgents. The Spanish army fought bravely but they were no match for the rebels. Hidalgo and Allende were about to walk away with a victory until they retreated back to Guadlajara. Historians still are not sure as to why they did this but we do know that Hidalgo and Allende disagreed on battle tactics. Allende, a professional solider, did not believe that violence and the looting of towns were necessary for the revolution. Hidalgo thought otherwise. The two men went their separate ways but soon met up again at The Battle of Calderon Bridge. Their relationship had gotten so bad that Allende stripped him of his command, arrested him, and later even tried to poison him. On July 26, 1811, Allende and three other revolutionary leaders were captured by the Spanish and executed.
José María Morelos was a priest who joined Hidalgo’s insurrection in 1811. After Hidalgo was executed, Morelos took his place and became leader of the revolutionary army. Under his leadership, the cities of Acapulco, Oaxaca, Tehuacán, and Cuautla (Santiago Cuautla) were occupied by 1815. In 1813, Morelos told the Congress of Chilpancingo to create a new form of government and draft a constitution. On November 6, 1813, the congress declared Mexico an independent nation and released an egalitarian constitution. Even though Mexico had declared independence, Morelos and his army were still on the run. The Spanish army had him outnumbered and outgunned and the Congress was constantly on the move. Morelos and his army were guarding the Congress when the Spanish caught them at Tezmalaca. Morelos fought them off while the Congress quietly escaped. He was captured and sent to Mexico City where he was executed on December 22.
Revolution of 1910-1920
Francisco Madero was the Mexican revolutionary and politician that kick-started the revolution of 1910. He became president of Mexico (1911-1913) when he successfully took down dictator Porfirio Díaz by unifying democratic forces against him. In 1908, Diaz told an American journalist that Mexico was ready for democracy and that he would retire and step down in 1910. The people of Mexico become furious when Diaz changed his mind and decided to run for reelection in. Francisco Madero helped organize the Antireelectionist Party and became it’s candidate to run against Diaz in the next presidential election. However, Madero was arrested and charged with trying to start a rebellion. After he was released on bail, he escaped to San Antonio and published the Plan de San Luis Potosí in which he declared himself president of Mexico. He also called for a rebellion to begin on November 20, 1910. Madero won the presidential election in October of 1911 and assumed office on November 6. However, his presidency was filled with personal and national disaster. Madero lacked political experience and realistic plans for the future. He was constantly attacked by his former supporters and U.S ambassador, Henry Lane Wilson. Soon, people started to plot uprisings against him. In February of 1913, Madero was arrested and assassinated by his escort on his way to prison. Madero’s name became a symbol of revolutionary unity and strength for the Mexican people after his death.
Venustiano Carranza was a leader in the Mexican revolution after dictator Porfirio Diaz was overthrown. Carranza joined Francisco Madero in his fight against Diaz and in 1913 he led troops against Victoriano Huerta who had assassinated Madero. Carranza became the provisional president of Mexico when his army led by General Álvaro Obregón, defeated Pancho Villa’s forces at Celaya in April of 1915. Carranza believed in political, but not social reform. When he became constitutional president on May 1, 1917, he reluctantly accepted the provisions of the 1917 constitution which established basic reforms in control of natural resources, landownership, and labor and social legislation. However, Carranza did little to put these provisions into effect. His term was filled with financial problems and social unrest brought on by his failure to institute effective reforms. Carranza also got into a few altercations with the United States. He was against their occupation of Veracruz and infuriated them when he tried to take control of their oil industry. When Carranza’s term ended in December 1920, he attempted to force his chosen successor, Ignacio Bonillas, into office. Carranza fled the capital in April of 1920 due to Gen. Obregon’s rebellion against him. On May 20, 1921, Carranza was betrayed by his followers and murdered.