77On September 16, 1810, Miguel de Hidalgo y Costilla summoned
Mexicans to the revolutionary struggle, calling them to free themselves
from the rule of the Spaniards. They were to establish a government
controlled by Americans (natives of New Spain, an area which embraced
all territory possessed by the Spanish king in North America). Americans
would rule in the interest of the people, the holy religion, and their King
Ferdinand VII. The Mexicans were told that the Spaniards were attempt-
ing to surrender New Spain to the French, who had occupied Spain and
held their king, Ferdinand VII, a prisoner in France. The Mexicans
declared they would preserve their country and themselves for Ferdinand
VII. The Spaniards, their property, and the cities of Mexico became
the prizes of rebels as they plundered southward from the Indian town
of Dolores to Mexico City. Then the tide turned; they retreated north-
ward driven by General Calleja, leading an army of loyalists, who sup-
ported Spain's authority. The rebels had organized as the "Army of
America" with Hidalgo as generalissimo. Hidalgo took up quarters in
Guadalajara; meanwhile, Mariano Jimenez had been sent to revolutionize
the Northern Provinces of Mexico, and the Interior Provinces of Coahuila
and Texas. For an account of the revolution see Bancroft, History
of
Mexico,
IV, 102-240.
