CONGRESS OF CHILPANCINGO: ANTECEDENTS, IDEALS, IMPLICATIONS - HISTORY - 2025

The Congress of Chilpancingo, also called the Congress of Anáhuac, was summoned by José María Morelos to replace the Junta of Zitácuaro in September 1813. The purpose was to form the first independent Mexican legislative assembly free from Spanish rule.

The independence struggle had begun with the Grito de Dolores launched by Miguel Hidalgo three years earlier. Although, at first, the intentions of the insurgents were to create their own governing bodies while keeping Fernando VII as king, the circumstances were changing until they became a war of total independence.

Source: By (unknown) (Morelia City Council), undefined

When Hidalgo lost leadership, shortly before he was assassinated, the one chosen to replace him was Ignacio López Rayón. This formed in Zitácuaro a Government Junta, which was expelled from the city by the Spanish troops.

It was then that Morelos, advised by Carlos María de Bustamante, decided that it was necessary to form a solid national government. After hearing various proposals, the insurgents chose Chilpancingo as their headquarters.

It was there that Morelos exposed the document called Sentimientos de la Nación, considered the first antecedent of an independent Constitution.

Background

The Napoleonic invasion of Spain and the consequent loss of power of Fernando VII unleashed a series of events that, in the end, would lead to the independence of Mexico.

In New Spain, the change of government in the metropolis caused groups to appear calling for the creation of their own Government Boards, although maintaining loyalty to the Spanish king. However, the reaction of the colonial authorities caused the positions to be leaning towards total independence.

El Grito de Dolores, launched by priest Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810, is considered the beginning of the War of Independence.

Board of Zitácuaro

Within the movements of the insurgents was the creation of the Junta de Zitácuaro in 1811. It was a kind of government council called by López Rayón, who had assumed command of the insurgency after the defeats of Hidalgo.

The majority of the independence leaders participated in this Board, including José María Morelos and López Rayón himself. The purpose of this body was to administer the areas that the rebel troops were conquering from the Spanish.

It should be noted that among the members of that Board, political positions were beginning to differ. López Rayón, for example, continued to maintain the initial position of the insurgents and proposed to swear allegiance to Fernando VII. Morelos, on the other hand, was beginning to show signs of wanting to form a government without any relation to the Spanish.

In the social aspect there were also differences, with Morelos being the representative of the most progressive faction in terms of human rights.

War movements

This time of the War of Independence was not only characterized by the attempt to form a Mexican government body. The warlike confrontations with the troops of the viceroyalty continued, highlighting the victories, on one side, of Morelos and, on the other, Felix Maria Calleja.

For his part, López Rayón was forced to leave Zitácuaro before the attacks of the Spanish. From that moment on, the Junta became itinerant, trying to avoid capture by the royalists.

This circumstance diminished part of the prestige of López Rayón. Meanwhile, Morelos did not stop increasing his. The priest had managed to conquer much of the south of the country, including the city of Oaxaca and the port of Acapulco.

Convocation of the Chilpancingo Congress

According to historians, the idea of ​​convening a Congress to replace the Junta de Zitácuaro came from Carlos María de Bustamante. This, one of Morelos's ideologues, convinced him in May 1813 of the need to form a strong government.

Another reason for convening that Congress was to settle the existing discrepancies within the independence movement, especially regarding the issue of loyalty to the Spanish crown and social orientation.

Morelos accepted Bustamante's proposal, although not his proposed location, Oaxaca. For his part, López Rayón also joined the initiative and proposed that it be held in Zitácuaro. Finally, Morelos opted for an intermediate place between those controlled by the insurgents and chose Chilpancingo.

The first task was to elect the representatives who would be part of the Congress. In theory, voting had to be carried out in several provinces, but in practice they could only be carried out completely in Tecpan.

Members of Congress

The representatives in Congress were: Ignacio López Rayón for Guadalajara, José Sixto Verduzco for Michoacán, José María Liceaga for Guanajuato, Andrés Quintana Roo for Puebla, Carlos María de Bustamante for Mexico, José María Cos for Veracruz, José María Murguía for Oaxaca and José Manuel de Herrera by Tecpan.

Proposed ideals

On September 14, 1813, in Chilpancingo, the first meeting of the officially called Congress of Anáhuac began.

As previously noted, Morelos' ideas were not limited to seeking independence from Mexico. For the priest, the social question could not be separated from politics and the injustices committed during the centuries of Spanish rule had to be corrected.

Thus, the day the Congress was inaugurated, he had his secretary Juan Nepomuceno Rosains read a document called Los Sentimientos de la Nación.

This is considered the first antecedent of a constitution in the country and perfectly reflects the ideals that Morelos tried to bring to the newly created governing body.

The Nation's Feelings

López Rayón had been the first to express the intention of drafting a constitution for the independent Mexico he intended. In it, he wanted to shore up loyalty to the Spanish king, which was not liked by part of the insurgents who supported Morelos.

Although that first project was never carried out, Morelos undertook the task of drafting certain points to serve as the basis for the discussions in Chilpancingo.

The document was called Los Sentimientos de La Nación. Although it was not a constitution in the strict term, its content was collected in a good part of the constitutions that Mexico has promulgated since then.

The most outstanding articles of the Morelos text were the following:

1. Declares the independence and freedom of America from Spain, from any other nation, government or monarchy.

2- The Catholic religion is defined as the only one accepted in the country, prohibiting the rest.

5.- Sovereignty would emanate from the people and the Supreme American National Congress. This would be made up of provincial representatives. The figure of the King of Spain would be eliminated.

6.- The government would be divided into three powers, legislative, executive and judicial, following the example of the French Revolution.

9.- Jobs would be reserved only for nationals.

11.- Elimination of the monarchy, replaced by a liberal government.

12.- Search for greater social equality. More labor rights and a reduction in working hours would be established.

15.- Slavery and caste distinction are prohibited. All citizens become equal

22.- The indigenous tribute is eliminated.

Political and economic implications

Morelos would be declared Generalissimo on September 15. This position was in charge of the Executive Power within the proposed separation of powers.

For several months, Congress would continue to function as the highest governing body of the territories controlled by the insurgents. The political implications of the agreements he reached during that period were important. Several measures even served as the basis or inspiration for the different constitutions promulgated in the country.

In the political sphere, however, the insurgents went through a negative time. Morelos tried to march towards Valladolid, in order to conquer it and establish Congress there. The royalists reacted promptly and avoided taking the city.

Little by little, Morelos was losing part of its prestige. Several military defeats ended up causing him to lose the position of Generalissimo. The next two years, until his death, he limited himself to obeying Congress.

Independence of North America

Although in practice it was more symbolic than real, Congress made an important declaration of independence on November 6, 1813. In a declaration contained in the Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of North America, it was established that:

“It has regained the exercise of its usurped sovereignty; that in such a concept the dependence on the Spanish throne is forever broken and dissolved; that he is an arbitrator to establish the laws that suit him, for the best arrangement and inner happiness: to make war and peace and establish relations with monarchs and republics ”.

Constitution of Apatzingán

The viceroyalty troops were putting pressure on the insurgents on all fronts. Congress was forced to leave Chilpancingo and move to Uruapan and Tiripitío, first, and then to Apatzingán.

It was in that town that on October 22, 1814, the so-called Constitution of Apatzingán, officially the Constitutional Decree for the Freedom of Mexican America, was born.

The principles included in this legislative text presented some very advanced features in the social ones. Based on The Sentiment of the Nation, the Constitution established that sovereignty resides in the people and that the end of politics was the happiness of the citizens. Thus, she stressed the liberal principles of equality, security, property and freedom.

Likewise, it declared that the system should be representative and democratic, in addition to proclaiming the separation of powers. Another novel aspect was the incorporation of a declaration of Human Rights.

This constitution was never put into operation. Morelos, who had inspired her, was shot the following year and the royalist army recaptured most of the country. However, part of the articles would be recovered later, as when Vicente Guerrero traced the law that prohibited slavery.

Monarchists vs. Republicans

Although it was a present issue since the appearance of the first independence movements, in the Congress of Chilpancingo the tension between the supporters of the monarchy and those of the republic was constant.

The winners in this regard were the Republicans, since the laws passed eliminated the figure of the king. However, the monarchists did not give up their efforts.

The issue remained unsolved. In fact, the first independent government of Mexico came in the form of an Empire, although the duration was quite short.

Liberals vs. Conservatives

Another of the classic confrontations in Mexican politics, that of liberals versus conservatives, was also seen in Chapulcingo.

Religious matter aside, with little discussion at the time, the ideas of Morelos and Bustamante were clearly liberal. The inspiration of the French Revolution, the US Constitution and the one proclaimed in Cádiz, Spain, are clearly seen in their texts.

This confrontation would be a constant for decades, reaching up to the 20th century. Liberals often resorted to laws already established by Morelos at the time.

Economic implications

Although, apart from the expenses caused by the war, the congressional agreements on economics did not come to be valid, they did influence subsequent legislation.

In this field, the positions were closely related to the ideology of each participant, liberal or conservative. The fiery defense of the most disadvantaged by the former, such as Morelos, was picked up by later presidents.

The repeal of slavery, carried out by Guerrero following the writings of Morelos, had a great impact, especially in Texas. In fact, some authors claim that it contributed to some Texas separatist uprisings, as many had large ranches with slaves.

Equally important was the pretense of favoring the peasants and indigenous people deprived of their lands. Both aspects were not resolved and formed, again, part of the demands in the Mexican Revolution.

References

1. Campero Villalpando, Héctor Horacio. The Constitution of Apatzingán and accountability. Obtained from capitalmorelos.com.mx
2. EcuRed. Chilpancingo Congress. Obtained from ecured.cu
3. Carmona Dávila, Doralicia. The First Congress of Anahuac is installed in Chilpancingo to give political organization to the country, convened by Morelos from Acapulco. Obtained from memoriapoliticademexico.org
4. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. Congress of Chilpancingo. Retrieved from britannica.com
5. Cavendish, Richard. The Congress of Chilpancingo. Retrieved from historytoday.com
6. Revolvy. Congress of Chilpancingo. Retrieved from revolvy.com
7. Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Chilpancingo, Congress Of. Retrieved from encyclopedia.com
8. Irwin, James. The Mexican Constitution That Never Was. Retrieved from gwtoday.gwu.edu