I'm assuming you mean the "Mexican War of Independence"...
If not, please clarify/refine the question and I'll be able to help you out.
Here is what I know...
When?
1810 – 1820
Why?
1796 – British sea power had forced Spain to open their colonial ports to free trade ïƒ*
increased competition and decline
New political ideas – spreading world wide; French Revolution and American Independence
Though works of Voltaire &c. were banned, opening of ports allowed them to enter
Literary discussion groups became centres of political dissent
French invasion of Spain – spark; 1808, Napoleon’s brother (Joseph) placed on throne; Latin
American colonies refused to recognise this regime
What happened?
Gachupine declared loyalty to Ferdinand VII and hoped to carry on as before
Criollos still discontented – literary societies continued to meet
Father Miguel Higaldo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende (army officer) ïƒ* planned coup
Grito de Dolores – 16 September 1810; impassioned and unpremeditated speech
Urged exploited Mexicans to reclaim their lands (peasant revolt – new idea) ïƒ* criollos disdain
A Mexicanos, viva Mexico – official liberation for Mexico
March to capital – huge and undisciplined (seizing land, slaughtering Spanish); criollos horrified
Why did they fail?
As they reached the capital, Hidalgo threw away a chance to overpower the royalists ïƒ* retreat
Within moths, Hidalgo, Alende and other leaders were captured and executed (sign of fear)
Most criollos had rejoined ranks of royalists
Who led the Mexicans to victory?
Mestizo priest Jose Maria Morelos
Better tactician – highly successful guerrilla campaigns
Genuine radical (Hidalgo limited by criollo background)
By 1813 – controlled virtually all of Mexico (not capital or Veracruz)
Congress of Chilpancingo – abolition of slavery, equality of races (remember – class was race)
For two years – fought bitterly but were crushed by royalists several times
1815 – executed
Vicente Guerrero – now led forced; reduced to occasional raids
How did they finally gain independence?
Mexican ruling classes had always feared liberal reforms in Spain as it could spread
ïƒ* gachupines and criollos pre-empted a true revolution by assuming “revolutionary†guise
Agustin de Iturbide – mestizo but royalist army general; joined Guerrero; Iguala Plan (1821)
Treaty of Cordoba – 1821 granted Mexican independence
