The question of who ended the Mexican War for Independence is usually answered with one name: Agustín de Iturbide. Still, the war did not end through a single battlefield victory or one dramatic decision. It ended through a combination of political strategy, military pressure, and a negotiated settlement between Mexican insurgents and Spanish colonial authorities. Day to day, the most decisive moment came with the Plan de Iguala in 1821, a plan that united royalist soldiers, independence supporters, and conservative elites under a shared vision for a future Mexican state. While Vicente Guerrero and other insurgents had kept the independence movement alive for years, it was Iturbide’s political maneuvering that brought the war to a close.
Introduction: Understanding the End of the Mexican War for Independence
The Mexican War for Independence began in 1810 and lasted for more than a decade. It was not a simple rebellion led by one hero; it was a complex struggle shaped by regional differences, social inequality, military exhaustion, and shifting political alliances. When people ask who ended the Mexican War for Independence, they are often looking for a clear final figure, but the answer requires understanding the broader context.
The war ended in 1821, not because one side destroyed the other in open combat, but because a political agreement made continued fighting seem less attractive than a negotiated transition. That agreement centered on the Plan de Iguala, which promised three major principles: independence from Spain, religious unity under the Catholic Church, and equality between Europeans and Americans born in Mexico. This plan gave many former royalist soldiers a reason to join the independence cause without feeling that they were abandoning their social status or religious beliefs.
In short, the war was ended by a coalition of interests, but Agustín de Iturbide was the central political leader who made that coalition possible That alone is useful..
The Background of the War
To understand who ended the Mexican War for Independence, it actually matters more than it seems. On the flip side, the war started in September 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest from the central region of New Spain, called for rebellion against Spanish rule. His famous cry, often associated with the start of the war, inspired a large popular uprising But it adds up..
Hidalgo’s movement was broad and passionate, but it was also chaotic. Still, after his capture and execution in 1811, leadership passed to José María Morelos, who gave the insurgency a more organized political direction. Morelos pushed for deeper reforms, including a more inclusive republic and stronger separation from Spain. He was captured and executed in 1815.
After Morelos, the independence movement became more fragmented. He continued fighting for independence even when many others had surrendered or lost hope. Vicente Guerrero became one of the most important surviving leaders. Worth adding: many insurgents operated in remote regions, especially in western and southern Mexico. His persistence kept the movement alive during a difficult period That's the part that actually makes a difference..
By the late 1810s, the war had become a long, costly struggle. At the same time, many elites in New Spain were increasingly unhappy with the political and economic restrictions imposed by Spanish rule. Spain was weakened by its own wars in Europe, and the colonial government in Mexico was exhausted. This created the conditions for a new political solution.
The Rise of Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide was a Spanish-born military officer serving the colonial government. Unlike Hidalgo and Morelos, he was not a popular insurgent leader. He was a career soldier, politically connected, and part of the elite circles that controlled much of the colonial administration.
In 1821, Iturbide was sent to suppress a small insurgency led by Emiliano Zapata in the south. Still, instead of simply defeating the rebels, Iturbide realized that he could use the situation to his advantage. He contacted Vicente Guerrero, one of the most respected independence leaders, and proposed a political alliance.
This was a major turning point. Day to day, iturbide and Guerrero agreed to work together, combining royalist military power with the legitimacy of the independence movement. Their cooperation made the Plan de Iguala possible.
The Plan de Iguala
The Plan de Iguala, issued on February 24, 1821, is one of the most important documents in answering who ended the Mexican War for Independence. It was a political program that offered a way to end the war without a complete collapse of the existing social order Nothing fancy..
Worth pausing on this one.
The plan had three main principles:
-
Independence from Spain
New Spain would become a sovereign nation, no longer part of the Spanish Empire Less friction, more output.. -
Religious unity
The Catholic Church would remain the dominant religious institution, which reassured conservative elites and the clergy The details matter here. Less friction, more output.. -
Equality of status
People born in Mexico, including Americans and mixed-race groups, would be recognized as equal to Europeans in the new nation.
This third point was especially significant. For years, many elites in New Spain had been frustrated by the fact that political power was often reserved for peninsular Spaniards. The Plan de Iguala offered them a role in the future government without threatening their social position Took long enough..
The plan was not a radical democratic document. Plus, it did not promise full equality for all people, especially Indigenous communities and enslaved populations. Despite this, it was powerful because it brought together groups that had previously fought each other That's the whole idea..
Why the Plan Ended the War
The Plan de Iguala ended the war because it made independence politically acceptable to many people who had not supported it before. Royalist soldiers, conservative elites, and military officers saw that they could join the independence movement without losing their status And that's really what it comes down to. Surprisingly effective..
No fluff here — just what actually works.
This caused a major shift in the war. Instead of a small insurgent force fighting against the colonial army, the independence movement became a broad coalition. Many royalist units switched sides, weakening the government’s ability to resist Easy to understand, harder to ignore. And it works..
The key military and political leader in this process was **Agustín de
Agustín de Iturbide, the architect of the Plan de Iguala, became the central figure in transitioning from war to independence. After securing the alliance with Guerrero, Iturbide transformed his royalist forces into the Army of the Three Guarantees (Ejército de las Tres Garantías), a unified military force that embodied the principles of the plan. This army marched not as loyalists to Spain but as champions of a new Mexican nation. Their campaign was marked by strategic victories over remaining Spanish forces, notably at the Battle of Puente de Calderón in January 1821, which crippled royalist resistance in the north. By May 1821, the army entered Mexico City, and on September 27, 1821, the Army of the Three Guarantees formally entered the capital, effectively ending the war. The Spanish viceroy, Juan O’Donojú, signed the Treaty of Córdoba, recognizing Mexican independence, though he attempted to preserve some Spanish influence. The treaty’s ratification in 1822 marked the official end of the conflict Worth knowing..
Iturbide’s role was important not only as a military leader but also as a political negotiator. His ability to merge conservative and liberal factions under the Plan de Iguala’s framework created a coalition strong enough to force Spain’s hand. While the plan avoided radical social reforms, it provided a pragmatic path to sovereignty that appealed to elites, clergy, and insurgents alike. This broad support ensured that independence was not merely a military victory but a negotiated political settlement.
Conclusion
The Mexican War of Independence concluded not through a single decisive battle or leader, but through the convergence of strategic alliances, pragmatic politics, and ideological compromise. Agustín de Iturbide, by forging the Plan de Iguala and uniting rival factions under the promise of a constitutional monarchy with Catholic unity and social equality, provided the blueprint for ending the conflict. Think about it: the Plan de Iguala’s success lay in its ability to offer a future that preserved key institutions while granting independence—a balance that satisfied enough stakeholders to secure Mexico’s freedom. Because of that, his collaboration with Vicente Guerrero and the creation of the Army of the Three Guarantees transformed a fractured rebellion into a cohesive movement capable of toppling colonial rule. Thus, the answer to who ended the Mexican War for Independence lies in Iturbide’s leadership and the Plan de Iguala’s vision, which turned the tide of war into a negotiated peace.
