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when did mexico become a country

Mexico became an independent country on September 27, 1821, marking the end of over 300 years of Spanish colonial rule as New Spain.

Independence Timeline

Mexico's path to nationhood unfolded through a decade-long war sparked by Miguel Hidalgo's 1810 call to arms, evolving into formal independence via the 1821 Plan of Iguala and Treaty of Córdoba. Key milestones include:

  • 1810 : Hidalgo's Grito de Dolores initiates the Mexican War of Independence.
  • February 1821 : Agustín de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero unite conservative and insurgent forces under the Plan of Iguala.
  • August 24, 1821 : Treaty of Córdoba signed, recognizing independence (though Spain initially rejected it).
  • September 27, 1821 : Army of the Three Guarantees enters Mexico City; independence proclaimed the next day.

This created the First Mexican Empire under Iturbide, which transitioned to a federal republic by 1824.

From Colony to Empire

Spain colonized the region starting in 1521 with Hernán Cortés's conquest of the Aztec Empire, renaming it New Spain. Creole elites and indigenous unrest fueled independence movements, blending liberal ideals with conservative monarchy support. The 1821 empire briefly included Central American territories, but fractures soon led to their separation and Mexico's republican shift.

Milestone| Date| Key Figure(s)| Outcome 5
---|---|---|---
Grito de Dolores| Sept 16, 1810| Miguel Hidalgo| War begins
Plan of Iguala| Feb 24, 1821| Iturbide, Guerrero| Unites factions
Trigarante Army enters capital| Sept 27, 1821| Iturbide| Independence achieved
Federal Republic formed| Oct 4, 1824| Congress| Empire ends 3

Modern Recognition and Legacy

Spain formally recognized Mexico's sovereignty in 1836 via the Santa María–Calatrava Treaty. Today, September 16 remains Mexico's Independence Day, celebrating Hidalgo's cry despite the 1821 culmination. Post-independence turmoil included Texas's 1836 secession and the U.S.-Mexico War (1846-48), reshaping borders.

TL;DR : Mexico declared independence from Spain in 1821 after a war starting in 1810, evolving from empire to republic by 1824.

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