The War of Independence charts the violent struggle by Mexicans to break free, the subsequent loss of almost half of its territory to the US, and the resultant decades of instability that followed. The rebellion against Spain was set off by a priest in Hidalgo in 1810, and carried on by another priest, José María Morelos and general Augustine de Iturbide, concluding with the crowning of Vincente Guerrero as Emperor Augustin de Iturbide but he was quickly deposed.

When Mexico declared its independence in 1821, Spain and the Vatican did not recognize it. When Spain unsuccessfully tried to reconquer it, Mexico was declared a republic. The conflict between church and state led to civil war and a French invasion which made an Austrian prince, Maximillian, Emperor of the so called Second Empire. He was defeated and executed by Benito Juarez one of Mexico’s great independence heroes who was succeeded by Porfirio Diaz, who would then rule Mexico for more than 30 years