Acapulco - Acapulco History - Mexican Independence

Acapulco History - Mexican Independence

Acapulco and Mexican Independence

Given that in the 17th and 18th century Mexico was New Spain it must be remembered that the life here was inextricably tied up with that of Old Spain.

By the 18th Century things weren't going terribly well back in the old country. The political situation can best be described without going into long and tedious detail as hanging in rags… political corruption but above all serious war followed by invasion from that old demon seed Napoleon. He can be blamed for much misery in that century. This was hardly a situation likely to assist in the development of a colony thousands of miles away.

To make matters worse and incredible as it may seem from the 21st Century viewpoint, the rigid colonial system did not permit anyone who was not Spanish born to hold property or even worse have any stake in the economy. It is understandable that discontent grew and grew, building into a rebellion under the leadership of a feisty priest called Miguel Hidalgo. Depicted in the photo in a mural (actually a ceiling-al) by Orosco. Cheerful looking fellow.

Bearing in mind that Acapulco was really the only port on the Pacific worth a damn it will not surprise you to learn that the town was a focus of mush attention.

General Jose Maria Morelos laid siege to the San Diego Fort with about 1500 men inside who remained cooped up for 5 months. This couldn't have been fun so they eventually gave up and surrendered in 1813. This was the final straw and effectively destroyed Spain's trade with Asia. A bitter blow.

Due to the original colonial repression, once Mexico finally won independence, there was neither the expertise, money, nor ships needed to continue the profitable trade with the orient. This led to the gradual return of Acapulco to

its days as a sleepy fishing village too far away from civilization to be worried about much. There was a brief spat with General Antonio Santa Ana (the one John Wayne defeated at the Alamo) which in a rather convoluted way, led to the creation of the state of Guerrero. It is indicative of the status of Acapulco in the mid 19th Century that Chilpancingo (where the hell is that you might ask? It really isn't important is the answer) was chosen as the state capital.