Lesson 10 Handout 1
THE STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE
New Spain was the richest colony
held by any European country
during the 17th and 18th centuries.
Spain needed New Spain's wealth because it
had huge expenses trying to maintain its
powerful position in Europe. To manage the
resource-rich colony, the Spanish exerted
strong social, political and economic control
over New Spain. But as Spain increased its
demands, more and more people began
demanding independence from Spain.
Social Stratification
in New Spain
In order to keep social and political control,
the Spanish developed a caste system in
New Spain. This classified people by skin
color and determined their status during their
lifetime. Those born in Spain were given
high positions in the government and
church. Criollos got less powerful positions
in the government and the church, but the
Spanish Crown gave them high positions in
the army. Although Mestizos and Indians
were the majority, neither had a voice in
governing New Spain, except when they
organized themselves to rebel against the
authorities. Most Africans in New Spain were
forced to be slaves, whereas most Indians
were obligated to give labor and products to
the crown as "tribute."
Imports and Exports
Since the time the Spanish set foot in New
Spain, raw materials such as gold and silver
were taken back to Spain and other
European countries to decorate cathedrals
and palaces. Spanish colonizers had
developed the economy of New Spain by
encouraging and subsidizing the production
of cloth, animal hides and dyes. These new
industries stimulated the growth of
sweatshop-type factories, that exploited the
cheap, plentiful labor in New Spain. (These
Many Faces (1 Mexico
are a prototype of the maquiladoras of
modern Mexico.) However, the profits from
these industries were not re-invested in New
Spain or given back to the workers in the
form of decent wages. Instead, most of the
profits went back to Spain.
Spain also determined which goods
could be produced, exported and imported
in New Spain. New Spain could not sell
silver, textiles, dyes or other products except
through Spain. New Spain was forbidden to
produce some goods such as wine, olive oil
and silk; they had to be imported from Spain.
In addition, Spain imposed tariffs, duties and
taxes on New Spain.
Working Conditions
in New Spain
From 1800-1810, some of the specific factors
that increased discontent among the working
classes in New Spain were difficult labor
conditions and food shortages. For example,
labor conditions in the gold and silver mines
were extremely dangerous. To increase
productivity, owners forced African, Indian
and Mestizo laborers to carry up to 300
pounds of ore on their backs. In addition, the
price of basic foods grown in New Spain
doubled during these years because CI- poor
harvests as a result of droughts and frost.
Consequently, large numbers of people
became desperately hungry.
The Decision to Revolt
The Criollos became especially frustrated
during these years. They could own
businesses and have some political power,
but they paid high taxes and had little control
over their markets. Due to these economic
and political factors, many Criollos decided
to revolt against Spanish domination.
Other external influences fueled the
desire for independence. Napoleon
conquered Spain in 1808, and Criollos
, / 99
 Lesson 10
believed Spain would be in a weak position
to fight a war. The French Revolution, the
revolt by the settlers in the thirteen colonies
of North America, and the drive for
independence in Haiti increased interest in
revolution as a solution to their problems.
Criollos who follawed._ these_events
noticed that all these revolts involved small
populations fighting against world powers,
namely England and France. The Criollos
faced a similar situation with Spain.
Although Criollos organized the revolt,
Mestizos, Indians and Africans were united
in the desire to end colonialism if that would
end their oppression. Criollos and a few
well-educated Mestizos led
the struggle fo r
independence, but the
poorer Mestizos, Indians and
Africans made it a reality.
The Spanish colonists
remained loyal to Spain,
their country of birth. They
had little to gain from
independence.
The War for
Independence
On September 16, 1810,
independence from Spain
was declared. Miguel
Hidalgo y Costilla, a Criolio
priest, gave a speech this day
in the town of Dolores, near
Guanajuato (wah-nah-WAH-toe), and his
"Grito de Dolores" is repeated throughout
Mexico every independence day. Father
Hidalgo urged Indians, Mestizos and Criollos
to band together to revolt against the
oppression of the Spanish Crown.
The war for independence ended in
1821 when a Criollo leader crowned himself
emperor. A peace accord, called the Plan de
lguala, was signed on September 9, 1821,
and in 1824, Mexico became an
independent c onstitutional republic.
Consequences of the War
The newly liberated colony paid dearly for
1 30
Handout 1
independence. Thousands v people died,
many of them Indians who had fought with
the dream of becoming free again. Power
simply changed hands from the Spanish elite
to the Criollo elite. The destiny of the
majority, the Indians, was still in the hands of
. the privileged-minority-.-- The 2Iffeedoms"---
gained by the war most benefited Criollos
and Mestizos. Most of the Spanish living in
Mexico returned to their place of birth.
After the war, Mexico opened its borders
so free trade could take place. Merchants
from the US and European countries
scrambled to invest in businesses and trade
with the Mexicans. Open borders also meant
that people from countries
other than Spain began to
move to Mexico.
After 1821, Mexico was
no longer a colony, but the
social, economic and
political systems that had
existed under Spain were not
reformed. Poverty and illness
continued to be widespread,
especially among Indians
and Africans. The ideals of
Hidalgo were cast aside. For
many, the only thing that
changed were the names
and faces of the leaders. The
social, political and
economic systems that had
been in place for 300 years
remained essentially the same for the
majority of people. However, Mexico now
was an independent republic and by 1824,
Mexico had its own constitution.
The war campaigns produced a number
of military heroes, and soon the military was
the only group capable of maintaining order.
The new leadership and the political parties
were weak and inexperienced. They
continued to follow the Spanish mode of
undemocratic, authoritarian rule.
Consequently, the ground was fertile for
dictatorships, political corruption and
violence.
Many Faces qf Mexico
 Lesson 10 Handout 2

DISCUSSION GRID
Answer these questions from your group's perspective,
then fill in the grid during class discussion.

1. Did you resist or support independence? Why? What was your motive for your position?
2. What-did you gain or loseTWhat Might rrhain the-sa-rrieWithin4eperidence?

Your Motive Gain Lose Remain the

Same

Spanish
Crown

Spanish
living in
Mexico

Criollos

Mestizos

Indians
and
Africans

Many Vaces of Alexwo 131