Early Mexican war for independence

So I have noticed a trend in most timelines. Mexico gets beaten up, a lot. I have seen almost no timelines where Mexico doesn't do much worse than OTL. So I was wondering if/how that could be fixed by an early Mexican war for independence. I have a few questions on what ideas people have for how to make this Mexico be as powerful as possible.
So first off who would be best to lead the Revolution, Mestizo/Creole, Indigenous people or Peninsulares, and whichever group would lead said revolution how could they keep from alienating the other groups?
Also on the subject of leaders does anyone know any interesting figures in Mexico from 174-1780 who could lead said revolution (preferably someone who won't turn into a Caudillo)?
What would be the best way to facilitate said war for independence? I was thinking Spain being embroiled in a war that forces it to heavily tax its colonies such as a longer 7 years war or if the Falklands crisis (1770) turned hot.
How big of a territory could the new government effectively control, without being overextended and having a bunch of territory break free?
Finally anything else relevant to making a stronger Mexico? Any reasons you think the POD is too late, or that Mexico will always fail. Any relevant misc. information on Mexico in this time frame (I know the basics of how Spain ruled its colonies but not very much specifics). Also do you know of any good timelines with a strong Mexico that have been done before, etc.
 
You don't need to go that far back. One of the reasons Mexico stumbled after independence was due to said movement being an 11-year long struggle that left the resulting country crippled. Not to mention, since the final push was done by creoles that switched sides after the liberal revolution in Spain, it left a wedge between them and the long-time insurgents that endured after independence.

One thing that could be done is to simply shorten the war. In 1811, the insurgents had the chance to take Mexico City, but Hidalgo refused. Change that, and perhaps that can have an impact.
 
Bernardo Galvez, viceroy from 1785 til his death a little over a year later, officially of typhus. There were rumors that he may have been poisoned by Spanish agents, fearing his popularity and personality might lead him to attempt an independence movement.

If you can figure out how to make a transition with less carnage, you have the makings for a very powerful (for North America) country. the OTL US wank is in serious danger of being derailed.
 
Top