When asking who led the push for independence in Mexico, the answer is not a single name but a succession of courageous leaders who transformed a colonial territory into a sovereign nation. Because of that, the Mexican War of Independence, which erupted in 1810 and concluded in 1821, was driven by priests, soldiers, indigenous fighters, and criollo elites united by a shared desire to end Spanish rule. Understanding who led the push for independence in Mexico requires looking at figures like Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, and Agustín de Iturbide—each of whom played a distinct role in the long struggle for freedom.
The Origins of the Independence Movement in New Spain
For nearly three centuries, Mexico existed as Nueva España, a viceroyalty of the Spanish Empire. Colonial society was rigidly divided by race and birthplace. Peninsulares, Spaniards born in Europe, held the highest government and church offices, while criollos, people of Spanish descent born in the Americas
