Mexico s Early National Period By: Dr. Richard Bruce Winders, Alamo Historian & Curator For the coming year, The Alamo Messenger will focus on Mexico s Early National Period as a topic of interest. The purpose of this focus should be clear: Texas was a part of Mexico until it declared its independence on March 2, 1836. Therefore, events that occurred in Mexico affected Texas and its inhabitants. Hopefully, our examination of this period will give readers a deeper understanding of the reasons for the Texas Revolution, as well as subsequent events in Texas history. Our review of Mexico s Early National Period will follow a timeline that begins with Mexico still a part of New Spain. Napoleon Bonaparte s 1808 invasion of Spain to support his brother s ascension to the Spanish throne initiated a series of events that led to Spain s loss of its colonies in the western hemisphere. Even though the Spanish, with the help of their British allies, drove French forces out of Spain in 1813, serious cracks in the empire had already begun New Spain, 1800 (not including the island territories of the Pacific Ocean). to form as inhabitants throughout Latin America began to fight for the right to determine their own destinies. In Mexico, Father Miguel Hidalgo took advantage of this unrest to issue his famous grito, which called for death to both bad government and Spaniards living in Mexico. For the next decade, Mexicans fought a civil war as some still supported the Spanish crown while others called for independence. Texas became a battlefield over which rebels, American filibusterers, and royalists fought. The Las Casas Revolt (1811), the Gutiérrez-Magee
Expedition (1812-13), and the Battle of Medina (1813) all occurred within in this historical backdrop of international and regional strife. Independence brought a measure of hope to Mexicans who had been rocked by ten years of civil unrest. The change was the result of the realization that all Mexicans, regardless of ethnicity, had a legitimate right to rule themselves. The true enemy was the Spanish government and the gauchupines, or Spaniards living in Mexico, and not their fellow countrymen. Once the decision to separate was announce with the 1821 Plan of Iguala, Spanish officials, worn-down by years of conducting counterinsurgency campaigns throughout Latin American, were powerless to halt the movement. An independent Mexico had become a fact. Despite breaking with Spain, Mexicans were not ready to abandon the monarchy, the form of government which had governed their affairs for three hundred years. From 1822 to 1823, Mexico was ruled as an empire under Emperor Agustín I. The short reign of Agustín Iturbide failed to fulfill the optimistic expectations held. The European Enlightenment of the 18 th century had unleashed ideas then thought to be radical that had spawned the American and French revolutions. The new concept of a republic, citizens, and self government had taken hold in Spain s old colonies. In Mexico, adherents to this new republican doctrine replaced the Mexican empire with the new Federal Republic of Mexico. The Constitution of 1824, adopted by an assembly representing the new nation, laid out the government s organization along with identifying the roles and limitations of its branches. However, even this new arrangement failed to satisfy many Mexicans. Two major political factions emerged that would battle each other (sometimes politically and sometimes martially) for nearly forty years. One faction, usually labeled federalist or republican, supported the Constitution of 1824 and the principals on which it was founded. The other faction, known as
centralists, wanted to scrap the federal system and establish a centralized government run from Mexico City. This long tumultuous struggle provided the context for much of what happened during Mexico s Early National Period. Moreover, this internal Mexican struggle is the key to understanding the Texas Revolution. Mexico faced a variety of troubles following Republic of Mexico, 1824 independence beyond the matter of forming a stable government. Internationally, Spain threatened to return and reclaim Mexico. In 1827, officials discovered a pro-spanish plot intended to pave the way for a Spanish invasion. Two years later, a Spanish force landed at Tampico but failed to march inland. Held on the coast where the elements (heat and disease) did their work, the forces surrendered a few months later. Mexico had a new hero known as the Hero of Tampico: Antonio López de Sana Anna. History had a larger role in store for him. Internally, the ten year long war for independence had left the Mexican economy in shambles as trade and industry had come to halt in some regions. Mines went unworked and fields remained unplanted. In need of capital for improvements, the Mexican government turned to Europe for loans. While Mexico could claim to be free, in reality it soon was bound to Europe s leading financial houses. Texas seemed a bright spot on Mexico s horizon. Like the rest of the nation, Texas had been ravaged by the war for independence. Texas population had even plummeted as many rebels were either killed by royalist forces or fled to Louisiana to escape their wrath. In 1820, however, Spanish officials agreed to allow Moses Austin to settle American colonists in Texas.
The plan was that Austin - and others like him when the plan expanded - would bring in people of good character who would, in turn, usher in a period of prosperity through their hard work. By this means, the cost of maintaining an expensive frontier would be shared between Texas and the national government. Although allowing Americans and Europeans to immigrate to Texas appeared beneficial at first, by 1830 the empresario system had become unmanageable and in need of reform. Talk of reform sounded like tyranny to many Texas colonists raised on stories of the American Revolution. Politically, Texas existed as the Department of Texas within the State of Coahuila y Tejas from 1824 until 1836. The designation was due to Texas limited population at the founding of the Mexican republic in 1824. Regionally, the desire of Texans for separate statehood within the federation proved to be a major source of tension between Texas and Coahuila in the years leading up to the Texas Revolution. As you will see, knowledge of Mexico s Early National period sheds light on Texas under the Mexican flag. One name, Santa Anna, should already be familiar. Another name linked to both Mexican and Texas history is Lorenzo de Zavala. Other historical figures Agustín Iturbide, Guadalupe Victoria, Vicente Guerrero, Lucas Alamán, Carlos Bustamante, José Maria Tornel, Valentín Gómez Farías will likely be new faces. The role of Mexican Masons yorkinos and escoceses might be surprising. Because events in Texas did not happen in a vacuum, you will see the broader context for what traditionally has been considered Texas history. We invite you to join us on this exciting year long historical journey. RBW Selected Timeline of Important Events 1808 Napoleon makes his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, King of Spain 1808-1813 Juntas rule Spanish colonies in name of Ferdinand VII
September 15, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo begins Mexican revolt against Spanish March 21, 1811 August 12, 1812 August 18, 1813 February 24, 1821 May 19, 1822- March 19, 1823 Oct. 4, 1824 May 16, 1833 Hidalgo and his lieutenants captured on their way to Texas Gutiérrez-Magee seizes Nacogdoches Arredondo crushes the rebels at the Battle of the Medina Plan de Iguala announced beginning of Mexican independence Reign of Emperor Agustín I Constitution of 1824 ratified; creation of Coahuila y Tejas Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico