Plan of Iguala
Encyclopedia
Plan of Iguala, also known as Plan of the Three Guarantees ("Plan Trigarante"), was a peace treaty proclaimed on February 24, 1821, in the final stage of Mexican War of Independence
from Spain
. The plan attempted to establish a constitutional
foundation upon which an independent Mexican Empire
would be based. It took its name from the city of Iguala
in the modern-day state of Guerrero
.
The Plan of Iguala had three main goals, these included the establishment of Roman Catholicism, the proclamation of Mexico's independence
, and social equality
for all social and ethnic groups in the new country. These goals were summarized as "Religion, Independence and Unity" ("Religión, Independencia y Unión").
Mexico was to become a constitutional monarchy
, modelled after the Europe
an monarchies of the time. The Plan also called for the equality of all inhabitants of Mexico, granting them equal rights in court and in every aspect of their lives.
The two main figures behind the Plan were Agustín de Iturbide
(who would become Emperor of Mexico
) and Vicente Guerrero
, Revolutionary rebel leader and later President of Mexico
. The Army of the Three Guarantees
was set up to defend the ideals of the Plan of Iguala, and consisted of the unified military forces of these two men. On August 24, 1821, Iturbide and Spanish Viceroy Juan O'Donojú
signed the Treaty of Córdoba
in Córdoba, Veracruz
, ratifying the Plan of Iguala, and thus confirming Mexico's independence.
meeting in Madrid
on February 13, 1822, resolved to declare the Treaty of Córdoba
"illegal, null, and void". However, as far as the new Mexican government was concerned, following O'Donojú's acceptance of the Plan the country was now independent. This forced Spain to unsuccessfully attempt to reconquer its colony in the ensuing years.
Following the fall of Iturbide's empire
, the Mexican Congress disavowed both the Plan and the Treaty of Córdoba as the basis for government on April 8, 1823. A new constitutional convention was called which led to the adoption of the 1824 Constitution of Mexico
on October 4, 1824.
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The plan attempted to establish a constitutional
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
foundation upon which an independent Mexican Empire
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
would be based. It took its name from the city of Iguala
Iguala
The historic city of Iguala de la Independencia is located from state capital Chilpancingo in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It stands on Federal Highway 95. Iguala is the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the north-central part of the state. The city had a 2005...
in the modern-day state of Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
.
The Plan of Iguala had three main goals, these included the establishment of Roman Catholicism, the proclamation of Mexico's independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, and social equality
Social equality
Social equality is a social state of affairs in which all people within a specific society or isolated group have the same status in a certain respect. At the very least, social equality includes equal rights under the law, such as security, voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, and the...
for all social and ethnic groups in the new country. These goals were summarized as "Religion, Independence and Unity" ("Religión, Independencia y Unión").
Mexico was to become a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
, modelled after the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an monarchies of the time. The Plan also called for the equality of all inhabitants of Mexico, granting them equal rights in court and in every aspect of their lives.
The two main figures behind the Plan were Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
(who would become Emperor of Mexico
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
) and Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Guerrero
Vicente Ramón Guerrero Saldaña was one of the leading revolutionary generals of the Mexican War of Independence, who fought against Spain for independence in the early 19th century, and served briefly as President of Mexico...
, Revolutionary rebel leader and later President of Mexico
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
. The Army of the Three Guarantees
Army of the Three Guarantees
At the end of the Mexican War of Independence, the Army of the Three Guarantees was the name given to the army after the unification of the Spanish troops led by Agustín de Iturbide and the Mexican insurgent troops of Vicente Guerrero, consolidating Mexico's independence from Spain...
was set up to defend the ideals of the Plan of Iguala, and consisted of the unified military forces of these two men. On August 24, 1821, Iturbide and Spanish Viceroy Juan O'Donojú
Juan O'Donojú
Juan O'Donojú y O'Rian was a Spanish military officer and jefe político superior of New Spain from July 21, 1821 to September 28, 1821, during Mexico's war of independence...
signed the Treaty of Córdoba
Treaty of Córdoba
The Treaty of Córdova established Mexican independence from Spain at the conclusion of the Mexican War of Independence. It was signed on August 24, 1821 in Córdoba, Veracruz, Mexico. The signatories were the head of the Army of the Three Guarantees, Agustín de Iturbide, and acting on behalf of the...
in Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba, Veracruz
Córdoba, officially known as Heroica Córdoba, is a city and the seat of the municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Veracruz. It was founded in 1618....
, ratifying the Plan of Iguala, and thus confirming Mexico's independence.
Aftermath
The Spanish CongressCortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
meeting in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
on February 13, 1822, resolved to declare the Treaty of Córdoba
"illegal, null, and void". However, as far as the new Mexican government was concerned, following O'Donojú's acceptance of the Plan the country was now independent. This forced Spain to unsuccessfully attempt to reconquer its colony in the ensuing years.
Following the fall of Iturbide's empire
Mexican Empire
The Mexican Empire or rarely Gran Mexico was the name of modern Mexico on two brief occasions in the 19th century when it was ruled by an emperor. With the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire from Spain in 1821, Mexico became an independent monarchy, but was soon replaced with the...
, the Mexican Congress disavowed both the Plan and the Treaty of Córdoba as the basis for government on April 8, 1823. A new constitutional convention was called which led to the adoption of the 1824 Constitution of Mexico
1824 Constitution of Mexico
The Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1824 was enacted on October 4 of 1824, after the overthrow of the Mexican Empire of Agustin de Iturbide. In the new constitution, the republic took the name of United Mexican States, and was defined as a representative federal republic, with...
on October 4, 1824.
See also
- Mexican War of IndependenceMexican War of IndependenceThe Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
- Declaration of Independence of the Mexican EmpireDeclaration of Independence of the Mexican EmpireThe Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is the foundational document of the empire, and therefore, of the Mexican nation. The morning after the Army of the Three Guarantees entered Mexico City on September 28, 1821, Agustín de Iturbide ordered the Supreme Provisional Governmental...
- Plans in Mexican historyPlans in Mexican HistoryIn Mexican history, a plan was a declaration of principles announced in conjunction with a rebellion, usually armed, against the central government of the country . Mexican plans were often more formal than the pronunciamientos that were their equivalent elsewhere in Spanish America and Spain...
External links
- Plan de Iguala and other relevant documents (English & Spanish versions)
- http://go.usa.gov/Bv5Official Historical Document, Law Library of CongressLaw Library of CongressThe Law Library of the United States Congress was established in 1832.-Mission statement:From the Law Library of Congress website:"The mission of the Law Library of Congress is to provide research and legal information to the U.S. Congress as well as to U.S. Federal Courts and Executive Agencies,...
Collection, "Plan de Iguala"] (Spanish original provided by the Global Legal Information NetworkGlobal Legal Information NetworkThe Global Legal Information Network is a cooperative, not-for-profit federation of government agencies or their designees that contribute national legal information to the GLIN database. It is an automated database of statutes, regulations and related material that originate from countries in the...
) - World Digital Library, Plan for the Independence of the Septentrional America (Plan of Iguala)