ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Timeline of Mexican War of Independence

Okay kiddo, so let's talk about the Mexican War of Independence. This was a really important event that happened in Mexico a long time ago, back in the early 1800s, so get ready to learn something new!

Before we can talk about the timeline of the war, we need to understand what led up to it. Mexico used to be a colony of Spain, which means that the Spanish government controlled Mexico and all the people who lived there. But the Mexican people didn't like this arrangement because they felt like Spain was treating them unfairly and not giving them enough freedom.

So, in 1810, a man named Miguel Hidalgo gave a famous speech called the "Cry of Dolores," where he encouraged the Mexican people to rise up against the Spanish government and fight for their independence. This was the start of the Mexican War of Independence.

Now let's look at some important events in the timeline of the war:

- 1810: The war begins with the Cry of Dolores. Hidalgo and his army fight against the Spanish government, but they are eventually defeated.

- 1811-1817: Other leaders take over the fight for independence, including José María Morelos and Vicente Guerrero. They each have some success but are eventually captured and executed by the Spanish.

- 1820: A new leader named Agustín de Iturbide starts fighting for independence. He enters into negotiations with the Spanish government and eventually signs the Treaty of Córdoba, which grants Mexico its independence.

- 1821: Mexico officially declares its independence from Spain. Iturbide becomes the first emperor of Mexico, but this doesn't last very long because he is eventually overthrown and Mexico becomes a republic instead.

So that's the timeline of the Mexican War of Independence, in a nutshell! It was a long and difficult fight, but it was worth it because it gave the Mexican people the freedom they had been fighting for.