19TH CENTURY IN MEXICO: HISTORICAL FACTS AND CHANGES - HISTORY - 2024

The nineteenth century in Mexico is characterized above all by obtaining its independence from Spain. This historical event caused many changes in Mexican society, some of which remain today.

Mexico also experienced numerous political conflicts during the 19th century, especially with the United States, Spain and France. Thanks to the recently achieved independence, Mexico began to build the bases of its political and economic ideas, while social inequalities were maintained over time.

Guadalupe Victoria was the first president of Mexico once its independence was achieved. Source: National Museum of Interventions, via Wikimedia Commons.

In the 19th century, Mexico had six and a half million inhabitants, almost double the population it had during the previous century. This figure declined due to the wars for independence. By the end of the 19th century the country already had more than 13 million inhabitants.

Historical facts

Most of the events that occurred in Mexico in the 19th century had a protagonist: independence. This historical fact generated conflicts with other countries, the creation of new laws, forms of government and the creation of a national identity.

In the year 1810 the Grito de Dolores took place, considered as the event that began the independence of Mexico and that consisted in the call of Hidalgo y Costilla, Allende and Aldama for the people to start a rebellion against the Spanish Crown, after three centuries of being conquered.

The precursors of independence were executed a year later, after being accused of treason. This is something that is repeated throughout the century with other leaders such as Iturbide in 1824, and Guerrero in 1831.

In 1813 the first Congress was convened and in 1814 the Decree of Independence was published.

The Act of Independence is published in 1821 and the first laws begin to be created. In 1824 the Republican Constitution was approved, and José Miguel Ramón, better known as Guadalupe Victoria, became the first president of Mexico.

By 1825 the conflicts with the Spaniards continued, but it was achieved that all the European groups that were present in the Mexican territory surrendered. Four years later, the expulsion of all the Spaniards who lived in what was formerly New Spain was ordered.

War with America

Later the conflicts with the United States began, which began with the declaration of Texas to separate from Mexico in 1835. A year later, Texas achieved its independence. In 1845 a North American invasion took place that caused a warlike conflict that lasted until 1848.

The Americans entered Mexican territory through Veracruz with ideas of expansion, and managed to add to their territory the states of New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, California and a part of Wyoming, thanks to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that put an end to the intervention.

New symbols

Once a certain political tranquility had been reached, the 1950s helped Mexicans continue to advance in the consummation of their national identity. During this period, the national anthem was sung for the first time, and the Juárez Law, the Lerdo Law, and a new constitution were created.

Conflicts with France

France intervened twice in Mexican territory. First in 1838, in the War of the Cakes. Then in the 1960s, when Mexico announced that it would stop paying its foreign debt. In 1867 the Europeans withdrew from Mexican territory permanently.

Social changes

After independence, the indigenous people were the most important social group in Mexico, with more than three million people of this ethnic group (more or less the same number of people as all of Mexico during the 18th century).

The social classes were no longer grouped by race, and the divisions became by classes, with business classes, ecclesiastical, official classes and the popular class. The latter was the largest in number as it grouped Indians, workers, and ranchers, among others. In theory, independence sought equality for all Mexicans.

Economic, political and cultural changes

At the political level, the most significant changes occurred, obviously thanks to the achievement of independence, which allowed a new type of government and the enactment of new laws.

Despite having achieved independence, the lust for power of the different social groups caused instability in the country. During the 19th century, Mexico had three periods: the Iturbide Empire, the Federal Republic, and the Centralist Republic.

The first Constitution established equality among Mexicans, a significant change compared to the colonial period. The country was made up of states and the powers that made life in the government were established as executive, legislative and judicial. In this period there were a total of four constitutions: two Federal and two Centralists.

Economy

The economy of the 19th century in Mexico was characterized by crisis. The expulsion of the Spanish caused a flight of capital. As a novelty, they began to request loans from other countries, although Mexico could not meet even the first loan.

Agriculture was significantly reduced compared to the colonial period. This economic activity took a long time to recover after independence, as did mining. There was no monetary system.

Culture

In the middle of the 19th century, many schools began to open in Mexico, giving greater access to education. The music began to develop and bullfights, ball games, and cockfights were popular activities among Mexicans.

The Catholic religion continued to dominate the country, but the Jesuits and the Sisters of Charity were expelled. The romantic movement was born in Mexico, but from the hand of a Cuban, José María Heredia.

Although in the 18th century, Mexicans sought to approach modernism, it was at the end of the 19th century that they succeeded. With this movement, artists were moving away from the needs of society.

References

1. Castillo Negrete, E. (1875). Mexico in the 19th century, that is, its history from 1800 to the present time. Mexico: Imp. Of Las Escalerillas.
2. Guzmán, M. (2019). Mexico in the nineteenth century, of centenarians and bicentennials. Recovered from pacarinadelsur.com
3. Historical profile of Mexico (1821-1999). Recovered from oei.es
4. Sigal, S. (2019). Mexico in the 19th and 20th centuries. Recovered from mty.itesm.mx
5. All about XIX Century - History of Mexico. (2019). Recovered from lahistoriamexicana.mx