MEXICO 
!I 57 
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 exe- 
cuted 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 Span 
ish 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