Mexico Independent

Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain began in 1810 with the uprising launched by the priest Miguel Hidalgo. After his capture and execution, leadership of the insurgency passed to another priest, Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, a gifted military commander who organized disciplined forces in southern Mexico and won a series of victories against the royalist armies loyal to the Spanish crown.

Morelos captured key towns and besieged strongholds, expanding the rebellion across the south despite a determined royalist resistance, including a famous siege at Cuautla. In 1813 he convened the Congress of Chilpancingo, which issued a formal declaration of Mexican independence and set forth principles including the abolition of slavery and an end to the caste system.

Morelos was eventually captured and executed by royalist forces in 1815, and the independence movement was driven into guerrilla warfare. Independence was finally achieved in 1821 under Agustin de Iturbide and the Plan of Iguala, which united insurgents and former royalists. Morelos is honored as one of the foremost heroes of the independence struggle, and the Mexican state of Morelos bears his name.