Analyse the causes of Mexico's instability in the period 1821-1855

Authors Avatar

Analyse the causes of Mexico’s instability in the period 1821-1855

By

Name: Dahlia Grosvenor

Tutor: Prof. Mayo

Department of History


        After independence, Mexico was faced with many challenges and the economy had been ravaged.  Many people had died and large numbers of Spaniards had left the country.  There were large armies that still had not been demobilized, which would prove to have a tremendous impact on the society.  The social dislocations caused by the wars and all its residual wounds had still to be healed.  As a result of these things there was great economic, social and political instability for many years after Mexico’s independence.  It was in this chaotic environment that Mexico tried to forge their new nation.  Independence brought differing opinions about what direction the country should take.  Whether or not they should maintain a monarchical style of rule, or become a centralist or federalist republic, became the central focus of Mexico’s instability after 1821.  

Throughout this period, instability hinged on a few major factors.  The independence wars completely annihilated any form of structure within the society.  Firstly, it transferred the power from the royal bureaucracy to the army.  Secondly, although, the Roman Catholic Church, a pillar in the nation, had undergone severe losses in both manpower and material possessions, it was like the army, politically too powerful.  Thirdly, the entire country was in a state of economic recession.  The number of coinage minted had dropped as a result of a decline in mining and the country was in great debt.  Finally, the new nation could not source any effective leadership for almost half of a century after their independence from Spain.  This led to two problems.  Primarily, out of this arose the rule of Caudillos and secondly the new nation became divided into three political factions each vying for a chance to rule.  These major factions were conservatives, moderates and radicals.

Spain refused to acknowledge Mexico’s independence and rejected the offer as in the treaty of Cordoba to send a Spanish prince to rule Mexico.  This resulted in the Mexican congress choosing Agustin Iturbide, the royalist brigadier who had proclaimed Mexico’s independence on the 25th of February 1821, as emperor of their new nation.  

Iturbide’s reign however, in keeping with the standards of these times, was not to last.

After completely destroying the treasury, he was forcibly removed by a military movement in March 1823.  It was Santa Anna who had unleashed this movement that brought down Iturbide resulting in the establishing of a republic.  Though this system may have been conceived by intellectuals it was really the army that made it into a reality, becoming its true master.  The speed of its success pointed the way for future uprising by dissatisfied, military officers, resulting in the fact that a general would always be made president of the republic.  

Join now!

Mexico was organized as a federal republic and in 1824; the constitution of the United States of Mexico was created.  Mexico was divided into 19 states and 4 territories.  There was also a separation of power clause that divided government authority among the executive, legislative and judicial.  The president and vice president were to be elected by the state legislature for a term of 4 years.

While the federalists had won some victories, so too had centralists.  The Catholic Church would be the religion for Mexico.  The president was also given extraordinary power during times of crisis.  In times of ...

This is a preview of the whole essay