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The Mexican War of Independence. The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict that lasted from 1810 to 1821, ending over three centuries of Spanish rule in Mexico. Initiated by the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla with his famous Grito de Dolores, the revolt mobilized impoverished indigenous and mestizo peasants against colonial oppression. This conflict matters because it created an independent Mexican nation and reshaped the geopolitical landscape of North America.
Following Hidalgo's capture and execution, José María Morelos continued the insurgent campaign, advocating for social equality, land reform, and the abolition of slavery. The war dragged on through years of bloody guerrilla conflict until royalist officer Agustín de Iturbide joined forces with insurgent leader Vicente Guerrero under the Plan of Iguala. Together, their Army of the Three Guarantees entered Mexico City in 1821, securing independence and establishing the brief First Mexican Empire.