Here is my update. I would like to include updates about Spain, the US, and South America and maybe the Dominican Republic/Haiti. So far, Mexico's actions have released butterflies to those areas, such as Spain's earlier liberal revolt, Jackson's failed invasion of Florida and increased US government expenses, A maringally Earlier Gran Colombia (who in the OTL attracted the attention of Dominican and even Puerto Rican rebellious elements iirc). In this update, the Butterfly god has decided to prevent disastrous debt in Mexico....Comments are most welcomed! (Freelance mapmakers even more welcomed).
Anahuac Triunfante: A more united and successful Mexico from Colony to Enduring Republic TL
Part 3: A New Republic
Chapter 4: Ignacio Allende’s administration 1818-1822
Map of the United Mexican States as they stood in 1818 including the Protectorate of the United Provinces of Central America
The Allende Foreign Policy
Ignacio Allende tapped Guadalupe Victoria as his foreign minister and charged him the duty to obtain foreign recognition of the newly constituted republic in 1818 as well as favorable treaties and potential loans and investments. While Jose Herrera courted the US, Victoria himself would go with a few ambassadors to Europe and attempt to obtain audiences with Great Britain, France, Prussia and a few other European states and the Pope. Initial attempts were met with little success due to pressure from Spain, an ally of many of these nations during the Napoleonic wars.
The Apalachicola incident allowed Mexico to finally get official recognition from the United States, and soon after saw an increase of commerce from British and French merchants. The victory against the Spanish resupply flotilla afforded Mexico just enough prestige for the governments of the main European powers to allow their citizens to trade with Mexico independently. After the outbreak of the Liberal revolt in late 1819, other smaller European nations began following the path of the UK and France. Victoria managed to secure himself popularity among educated Mexicans after achieving a trade agreement and recognition from Great Britain by early 1820. [1]
By 1821, Bolivar managed assist revolutionaries and liberate Paraguay, and aided in securing the liberation of nations that comprised the former United Provinces of Rio de La Plata ending the independence war in South America. From the year 1819 to 1821 the Mexican government ordered a second South American expedition to assist Bolivar lead by Morelos which returned in time for the elections of 1822.
The Indios of the North
Borders of territory controlled by the Comanche Indians designated in Red.
During the organization of the new federal government in 1818, the states also were asked to submit new constitutions. This lead to the redivision of several states as their borders were reworked to better suit a republican federal government versus a centralized viceroyalty.
Northern Mexico remained largely unsettled, other than by the native peoples. Spain operated a number of Presidios, Spanish forts, that encouraged native populations to settle near them and trade. Essentially, they bribed native tribes to not attack New Spanish property or New Spanish native allies and retaliate against “rogue” tribes such as the Comanche and their Navajo-Kiwi allies.
After achieving independence, Mexico continued funding the Presidios as it took over one by one in Chiuahua, Choahuila, Sonora, Durango, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas and continued the Spanish strategy. [2] The territorial governments of Texas, New Mexico and the two Californias were left on their own for the most part during this period.
Many former indigenous militiamen of the revolution were given incentives, such as land grants, to take their families north and settle land appropriated by the new government. These land grants were also given to many mestizo soldiers and families in the hopes of civilizing the north. From 1818-1822 over 2,000 families would move to the northern states and an additional 900 into the territories. [3] The New Mexico and Texan territorial governments also managed to set up a system of tribute payments with the Comanche which helped reduce raids into Mexican territory, although they did still take place. By 1821, Allende sent a small military force to garrison in Chihuahua's capital of about 200 calvary men and another unit of 90 calvary men to Santa Fe to help deal with those raids.
Righting the wrongs of the Peninsular oppressors.
While the majority of Criollos were in no way egalitarian in their views of the former castas and the indigenous and many subscribed to racist views, they took steps to reverse some of the elements of the old social order that were especially criticized by Alexander Von Humboldt.
Laws were passed by 1819 that gave all Mexicans land owning rights and made it illegal to bar Mestizos from participation in the political process. Echoing one of Morelos’ “Sentimientos” in his famous document, many Criollos were adamant that only wealth and “virtue” would be considered when giving anyone the right to participation in the political process (as long as they were men). In practice, very few indigenous people participated in government in the first decades of Mexico’s history. And most mestizos that did participate were noticeably of lighter skin color.
Black and mulatto Mexicans were largely marginalized as a result of their small population numbers. With the end of the tribute system and states either manumitting slaves or out right abolishing it in accordance with the federal constitution.
The expulsion of Jesuit priests was an old grievance. While Spain re-invited the Jesuits after the establishment of the Constitution of Cadiz, they never really made it into Mexico. Now that Mexico was independent, the government began courting them. Many liberal Criollos wanted to increase literacy rates in Mexico among all Criollos and Mestizos with an eye towards the “Civilizing” of the indigenous peoples. The government found two main schools, one in Mexico City and one in Puebla. The hope was that teachers would spread from there throughout central Mexico.
Economic Policy [4]
With US recognition, several small mining upstarts from the US bought mining rights in central Mexico in 1819. However, by mid-1820 the financial crises in the United states led those companies into bankruptcy. Allende stepped in offering to buy their mining rights and in turn sell them at reduced price to local hacienda members who retained many of the foreign experts. Mexico now had domestic control of a small portion of its mining operation. Under Lucas Aleman’s national bank established in 1823, those mining companies began building refineries and expanding their operations. The most prominent of the Mexican owned corporation as Allianza Mineral Mexicana, or AMM. [5]
The British also financed and ran major mining operations in Mexico beginning in 1821 mainly the largest mining company of Real de Monte y Pachuca. These operations, as well as that of the AMM brought in much needed revenue to the government and capital to the economy.
A series of tariffs meant to stimulate certain agricultural industries were also passed as well as the funding of new roads and restoration of old and existing roads. Most of these projects were focused in central Mexico. Major highways were formed to connect the cities of Veracruz, Campeche, Tampico, Acapulco, Puebla, and Mexico City in a network to help boost trade. The government also made attempts to restart the Manila trade but that wouldn’t start until the Spanish liberal government consolidated control of Spain in 1822.
Efforts led by Lucas Aleman to establish a national bank to encourage economic development allowed private investments into infrastructure and industry in central Mexico. The Texan territorial government in cooperation with Tamaulipas began building a road to connect Tampico with Bexar and Monterey which was completed by 1825.
Despite these promising developments, Mexico was still a nation of concentrated wealth. The vast majority of indigenous Mexicans continued living in abject poverty. While there was an increase of mestizo participation in trade, business, and land ownership, they were still an economic and political minority. Literacy rates remained between a dismal 5-10% throughout the early 1820’s.
Immigration
Ignacio Allende’s administration did not focus on immigration initially. But by 1820 it became a focus among many liberals as another way to settle the northern territories and increase literacy in the country. During Victoria’s travels in Europe, he also helped set up immigration offices in Italy and Catholic areas in the various German states. From 1820-1822 over two hundred families began trickling in as a result of his efforts.
The largest and only real significant immigration to Mexico during Allende’s administration occurred in the territory of Texas. Stephen Austin was negotiating with the territorial government for a land grant. Since there were already a few hundred settlers from the US, the territorial government agreed to work towards making a deal with him for a land grant. As long as all settlers learned Spanish and converted to the Roman Catholic faith, they’d be welcomed to Texas. By 1821, Austin had nearly 300 settlers who moved into the southeastern portion of Texas. By the following year a few hundred more would follow.
Texan settlers were also met by Mexican settlers numbering close to four hundred, mostly mestizos but with a significant number of indigenous independence war veterans. Conflicts would often break out due to accusations of false conversions on the part of Austin’s settlers. Worried of social instability, Allende placed a 2 year hold on any further immigration from the United States into the northern territories. Despite that hold, nearly 500 illegal immigrants made into Texas from the US by 1823 forcing Allende to send in the military to enforce Mexican immigration law. These conflicts between the different settler groups and illegal immigration from the US would lead to the Texan revolt years down the road [6]
The Second Presidential Elections
Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon President of Mexico 1822-1826
Campaigning began in late August 1821 for the 1822 elections. The constitution did not allow for consecutive reelections, so Allende would not be running. By now three parties had formed in Mexico. The Liberal Party formed by liberals, the Conservative party formed by a coalition of moderates and conservatives and the Monarchist party formed by the staunchest conservatives and closest allies of the Peninsulares still residing in Mexico. Iturbide was nominated by the Monarchists while Guadalupe Victoria was nominated by the Conservatives while Morelos became the favored candidate of the Liberal Party. [7} Thanks to his war record, his two expeditions to south America, and the liberation of Central America, Morelos was immensely popular among the common people. With Hidalgo’s blessing (both literally and politically) Morelos ran a successful campaign winning the election for President. Victoria came in second place and thus won the Vice Presidency.
Iturbide conceded the election despite urgings from monarchists that he take soldiers loyal to him and take his “rightful place” at the head of government. His decision not to act was not out of a sense of loyalty to the rule of law, but he feared that Victoria would side with Morelos. Both Morelos and Victoria held a position in the people’s eyes second only to that of Allende and Hidalgo and equal only to Ignacio Lopez and Vicente Guerrero. Iturbide was also very popular, but only came after the aforementioned revolutionaries in popularity and support of both the people of Mexico and the army.
Morelos would face many challenges. The Californias and New Mexico were largely out of contact with the central government and practically running themselves. Many Mayans saw the Yucatan as their own realm and a sizable Peninsular population held most of the land and power in that area since it escaped the land confiscations of the war. Many indigenous farmers were starting to fail due to the inexperience of their new place in society which was causing unrest and slowing down economic growth. Morelos also realized that Monarchists and Conservatives would only tolerate him to a point before moving against him if he moved too far and too fast with implementing the liberal vision for Mexico. He had to navigate all of these issues with the awareness that Spain could, or rather would, return with a vengeance.
[1] Mexico’s economy and government budget are at a much better place in TTL than in the OTL due to the course of the war and relatively quick recognition by foreign powers.
[2] Due to money issues, Mexico did the opposite which brought about devastating raids from the natives hurting development of those states and settlement of the OTL modern US Southwest. But NIMTL (Not In My TimeLine)
[3] What’s this? More Mexicans in the North you say? Couldn’t possibly impact any future events….
[4] There’s a lot in here that is OTL and a lot that is TTL. Basically, I made things slightly better to significantly better taking into account a shorter and less chaotic war for independence, quicker foreign investment and recognition post-independence, and a more united populace not burdened by as many revolts. The same holds true for
[5] AMM is an invention of TTL as is the defunct American ones.
[6] More butterflies and butterfly nets. Unlike OTL, there are more Mexicans in Texas, more are coming and soon there would be more Europeans there too.
[7] I put Victoria with the Conservatives as a moderate, IOTL he did try his best to keep balance in Mexico between the two OTL factions of the Conservatives and Moderates. I figured that even if Mexico as a whole was more liberal, he’d still be a moderate trying to get everyone to get along.