May 22, 2025
French footprints in Mexico City
In Mexico during the 19th century, French influences were evident in the country’s capital, learn more about this period here.
19th Century in Mexico: Independence, Conflicts, and National Transformation
The 19th century in Mexico was a period of profound political, social, and cultural change. It began with the collapse of the Viceroyalty of New Spain and ended with the Porfirio Díaz regime, the prelude to the Mexican Revolution. During these hundred years, the country endured wars, foreign interventions, and a constant struggle to define its national model.
The beginning: Independence (1810–1821)
The first major transformation was the Mexican War of Independence, led by figures such as Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, and Agustín de Iturbide. This movement ended the viceregal era and gave rise to the First Mexican Empire in 1821, although political instability soon followed.
Instability and internal conflicts
After independence, Mexico experienced decades of turmoil:
Early republican governments, with tensions between centralists and federalists.
Military coups and uprisings, which fragmented political life.
Loss of Texas (1836) and the war with the United States (1846–1848), resulting in the cession of more than half of Mexico’s territory.
The Reform and the secular state
One of the defining moments was the Reform War (1857–1861), a civil conflict between liberals and conservatives:
Liberals, led by Benito Juárez, enacted the Laws of Reform, separating Church and State.
Conservatives defended traditional privileges and centralized power.
The liberal victory marked the beginning of the secular Mexican state.
Foreign interventions
The 19th century was also shaped by invasions and occupations:
U.S. Intervention (1846–1848), which resulted in Mexico’s territorial loss.
French Intervention (1862–1867), which established the Second Mexican Empire under Maximilian of Habsburg, later defeated by Juárez’s republican forces.
The Porfiriato (1876–1911)
The century concluded under the rule of Porfirio Díaz:
Economic modernization, with railroads, mining, and foreign investment.
Political stability, though sustained through authoritarian control.
Widening social inequality, which ultimately set the stage for the Mexican Revolution.
Conclusion
The 19th century in Mexico was marked by constant struggles to define a national identity. From independence to the Porfiriato, it left scars of war and territorial loss but also laid the foundations of a modern and sovereign state.
