MEXICO

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her  dependencies,  was  harsh,  and  the  spirit  of
revolt  came  to  a  head  in  1810,  under  the
leadership  of  a  Spanish  priest,  Miguel
Hidalgo  y  Costilla,  who  was  defeated  and  executed
  in  1811.  The  movement  for  freedom
was  kept  alive  by  another  priest,  Jose  Maria
Morales,  who  was  captured  and  killed  in  1815.
In  1821  Augustin  Iturbide  defeated  the  Spanish ­
  army  and  was  successful  in  having  himself
crowned  Emperor  of  Mexico  July  21,  1822.
He  was  forced  to  abdicate  in  1823,  and  to
leave  the  country,  but  returning  in  1824,  was
captured  and  shot.  On  the  departure  of
Iturbide,  Gen.  Antonio  Lopez  de  Santa  Ana
proclaimed  the  country  a  republic,  Guadalupe
Victoria  becoming  the  first  president.  Spain
sent  an  army  to  regain  Mexico  in  1829  but
was  utterly  defeated,  within  three  months  after
landing,  and  ultimately  the  Spanish  Crown
recognized  the  independence  of  Mexico,  Dec.
28,  1836.
April  21,  1836,  Texas  seceded  from  Mexico
and  was  annexed  to  the  United  States  in  1845,
following  which  Mexico  went  to  war  with  its