The French Revolution In The Independence Of Mexico

The French Revolution in the Independence of Mexico

Introduction

What we commonly know as the independence of Mexico really what happened was a revolution since what the Creoles wanted was a change in the political and economic system and subsequently an independence was wanted properly. According to this, analyzing this movement, it can be noted that its ideological base is similar to that of the French Revolution and the independence of the 13 colonies. This similarity is due to the ideas that were had at that time. Liberal and enlightened ideas led to several revelations around the world against absolutist regimes asking for a more equal system.

The French Revolution was a key fact that inspired Creoles in New Spain to take action in their situation of political and economic inequality.

First of all, an analysis of the French Revolution must be done to understand the relationship with the movement that occurred in Mexico.

The French movement was caused from a liberal and enlightened ideology that the bourgeois adopted and that later the rest of the third class did it in the same way. To very general features, some of the causes of the revolution was the growth of the bourgeoisie that was influenced by the revolutionary ideas of the great philosophers and thinkers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau. The ideas presented by these thinkers were related to happiness, the separation of powers, sovereignty, equality, freedom, commerce, economy and distribution of wealth.

These ideas become popular in the third class thanks to the media such as newspaper, encyclopedia and other texts such as the social contract. To the lower classes and the bourgeois ones they really began to believe in this ideology, which would lead them to take action. This brought several consequences such as war itself and the convention of documents such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen. In fact this document was key to the revolution since from this moment a general recognition of the natural rights of men is made. The statement was the work of a bourgeois society that sought equality and rejected privileges. The bourgeois sought their own benefit since they wanted equality for them and not necessarily for every population since the statement only applied in certain professions.

On the other hand, something similar happened in New Spain. The inequality between the Creoles and Peninsular caused discontent for the Creoles since they could not have the highest charges. This caused the Creoles to devise a plan to change the political system, the problem is that they did not have enough reinforcements. In this way, the Creoles convinced the lower classes fight with them arguing that they would be supported with food and harvest and that the final obtained the benefit of a more equal treatment. The lower classes accessed since at that time there was an economic crisis due to bad harvests and poor administration.

When comparing these two movements, it can be seen that there are great similarities. Both movements begin with a selfish vision by the "beneficiaries" classes, Creoles and Burgues. What both groups wanted was equality and freedom for themselves and then the lowest classes were illustrated and understood the need to fight to achieve equality. The two revolutions were the product of the enlightened and liberal ideas that arose. From all these concepts that French thinkers contributed important documents such as the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, the decrees of Hidalgo and the Minutes of Independence.

We choose this issue, since we are very interesting the influence that the French Revolution had on the independence of Mexico. Without the support of French illustrated ideas, Mexico could not have overcome the Spanish crown or proclaim their war struggle. This even affects our culture and way of thinking, since international trade did not stop and there were ships arriving from all over the world to New Spain while it was still dominated by the crown, inevitably the Creoles and indigenous people learned of the new world philosophies and revolutions thatThey achieved independence, the struggle mentality was emerging until they got a free Mexico. It is also important to know how the past impacts the present, knowing how the actions of our ancestors have an impact on our daily lives

Questions:

1. What were the ideas that inspired Hidalgo or another revolutionary to think that way and get up in arms in the independence of Mexico?
2. How did the French revolution influence Mexico so that Mexico’s independence was later?

Hypothesis:

1. Of affable and generous character, Hidalgo was very popular among parishioners. He was promoted by the great philosophers and thinkers like Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau. The ideas presented by these thinkers were related to happiness, the separation of powers, sovereignty, equality, freedom, commerce, economy and distribution of wealth. The same was what made him see the importance of an uprising before the political system, his greatest example was the France Revolution.

two. Hypothesis: The French Revolution for Latin America was a reference since to seek its independence, the French Revolution of 1789 had a broad bourgeois character, ended up being reduced to three basic principles: fraternity, equality and freedom (principles of liberalism). Mexico (and other Latin American countries) sought independence based on these postulates, the ideas of the French Revolution gave a basis to see what would be from countries capable of seeking their independence.

Developing

The issue that we will address in this investigation is how did the French revolution influence the independence of Mexico? This is a very interesting topic because taking into account the period and context in which it was lived, how without technology influenced what was happening in the French Revolution in the Independence of Mexico. This question opens many paths, for example, we can ask ourselves if at any time Hidalgo’s ideas changed because it was informed about the French Revolution.

The French Revolution was not only the movement that inspired New Spain, but it was a movement that impacted Latin America specifically. This revolution was a fundamental cause of independence in Latin America since at that time these territories were colonies mainly from Spain. The social and political situation was very unequal, so people demanded a different regime in which the situation was more just and equal. Comment by Julián Camacho:

The French Revolution was a movement driven by the lowest stratum in the French hierarchy in the seventeenth century, which consisted of the bourgeoisie, peasants, artisans, etc. The movement was due to the discontent mainly of the bourgeois before the unequal and absolutist system that France had. This same behavior is repeated in Latin America, being more specific, in New Spain. The Creoles were disgusted with the political and social system that was had since the peninsular occupied the most important positions while the Creoles were discriminated against. As can be seen, the socio -political situation was very similar only that there is a chronological lag. Both regions had a similar political evolution, the same shows the great similarity between the two movements. Comment by Julián Camacho:

Independence in Latin America and the Revolution in France were the product of the Social Movement of the Enlightenment. This way of thinking led both societies to rise in arms in a hostile way towards the nobility. The bourgeois and the Creoles were looking for a sovereign, secular and egalitarian political unity. This arises from the questioning of the absolutist regime that had in both territories.

The French movement was the model to follow of the Americans since New Spain was in an unequal situation. Revolutionary ideas arrived thanks to the Spaniards. The news spread through the nobility and the Creoles which had more closeness with the commercial links and the French emigrants in Spain. Although there was a censorship of the Enlightenment and the issue of the French Revolution was considered taboo in New Spain, people adopted French customs. People began to have a certain type of fartherness since people had a larger identity connection and relationship with the French movement.

This farming implies from the political, social, intellectual and economic aspect.

From the political perspective, the French revolution influenced New Spain by implementing the ideas of equality, fraternity and freedom. These three concepts are more specific in the desire for sovereignty, the rights of men, the separation of the Church and State, economic freedom and the abolition of the privileges of the nobility. These ideas came to seem interesting for the Creoles since they felt identified with the problem that was lived in Europe. Just as they felt the need to change the political system for their own benefit that would later become a common interest among the lower class population.

All these ideas were inspired by French revolutionary texts, for example the "definition of the revolutionary model" or the "abolition of the d -feudal regime". Both documents develop ideas about a secular, liberal, equal and constitutional system.

On the other hand, in the social aspect it can be analyzed that people were not only enough to follow the path of the French supporting their ideas, but in Latin America there was a whole sociocultural construction similar to those of the French. Although there was a dislike for them, for the entire situation of Napoleon and the dismissal of the king, the Latin American adopted a French lifestyle since there was a more revolutionary identity more present more present. This lifestyle was reflected in several ways, from the ways of socializing to the clothing and objects they used. For example, the new way of dressing that adopted the bourgeoisie was an aspect that created a different identity in the population since they left the Spanish identity behind. On the other hand, the accessories and decoration objects were also important since this established an economic and commercial link between France and New Spain. Comment by Julián Camacho:

Finally, a very important change were the new ways of socializing. The new socialization techniques were crucially important since these were those that prompted the independence movements to arise. Being more specific, gatherings served for the meeting and discussion of topics with people. Just the New Spain’s independence movement arises and is organized in a gathering, the Conspiracy of Querétaro in which several of the characters that participated in the movement were present. Comment by Julián Camacho:

On the other hand, the intellectual was also an important aspect since by this means people began to understand what the illustration and revolutionary ideas were. The Creoles were inspired thanks to the texts of the great illustrators;Montesquieu, Gabriel Mally, Rousseau, Voltaire, among others. The texts they produced were read in America by the students, teachers, noble and Creoles even if they were censored by the type of content they provide. These writings were the sources on which the Creoles and revolutionaries were based to perform a revolutionary movement.

On the other hand, the teaching of the French language, of science and secular education was also important in this process since in this way the population could understand the context and support the revolutionary ideas.

Finally, analyzing from an intellectual, social and political point of view deeply the revolutionary situation and its representation through symbols, the similarities in the hymns of each nation can be observed. Both national symbols talk about the love of the country, the celebration to victory (of revolutionary movements), reference to freedom, hatred towards enemies and an invitation to fight for their homeland which implies spilling blood for their nation,that is a privilege.

In conclusion, we think that the French Revolution was an uprising that has marked and influenced many events, aspects and terms throughout the history of mankind. This uprising is undoubtedly a historical conjecture that has joined and modified many historical events that will occur more trace. In the case of Latin America and France, this movement was the main cause of all revolutionary uprisings thanks to all the references that were had.

Finally, our hypothesis was correct since in it we mentioned the principles of liberalism and how these were fundamental for independence uprisings in Latin America. In the investigation we mention and develop the different aspects for which French influences were manifested. We evaluate from a political, social and intellectual point of view this event.

Sources: Comment by Julián Camacho:

• Touchard, Jean. History of political ideas Jean Touchard. Editorial Tecnos, 1975.
• Villoro, Luis. The ideological process of the Independence Revolution. Economic Culture Fund, 2010.
• Declaration of the rights of man and citizen of 1789. www.Conseil-Constitutionnel.FR/SITES/DEFAULT/FILES/AS/ROOT/BANK_MM/ESPAGNOL/ES_DDHC.PDF.
• “Decree against slavery, gabeas, and sealed role.”Virtual Library, 2003, www.library.org.AR/Books/139.PDF.
• François-Xavier war. Modernity and independence: essays on Hispanic revolutions. Ed. Mapfre, 1992.
• Elliott, John Huxtable. Empires of the Atlantic World: Spain and Great Britain in America, 1492-1830. Taurus, 2006.
• Mandujano, Isaín. "The French Revolution and us.”Process, July 22, www.process.com.MX/153218/LA-REVOLUTION-FRANCESA-Y-ours.
• Boadella, and Montserrat Galí. “The French in little things: the penetration of French taste in everyday life.”Openedition Books, Mexican and Central American Studies Center, 1 Jan. 1993, Books.Openedion.Org/CEMCA/862?Lang = is.
• “The abolition of the feudal regime, decree of August 4 1789.”Teaching Innovation Project. Contemporary history> The abolition of the feudal regime, decree of August 4 1789 |University of Granada, www.Contemporary history.com/pages/Block1/la-revolution-Francolesa/Historico Documents/la-abolition-of-regime-feudal-decreto-of-4-August-1789
• "Definition of the revolutionary model.”Revolutions, July 12, 2008, Century.WordPress.com/2008/07/12/Definition-of-model-refolution/.