Final answer:
José María Morelos was a key leader in the Mexican War of Independence, succeeding Hidalgo in the fight against Spanish rule. He led efforts to establish Mexico's independence and proposed significant social reforms in his 'Sentiments of the Nation'. Although he was eventually captured and executed, his legacy impacted Mexico's path to independence and early governance.
Step-by-step explanation:
José María Morelos y Pavón, also known as José Morelos, was a significant leader of the Mexican War of Independence. He was a mestizo priest who took command of the independence movement after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. In 1813, at the height of his military career, Morelos convened a wartime congress in Chilpancingo, which declared Mexico's independence from Spain. This congress also worked on a constitution for Mexico, guided by Morelos's 'Sentiments of the Nation', a document that outlined plans for social reforms, including an end to slavery, the casta system, indigenous tribute, implementing land reform, and introducing an income tax. Despite his initial military successes and his role in forming the early structure of an independent Mexican state, Morelos could not maintain the momentum. He struggled to rally a broader base of support, relying predominantly on mestizos, and failing to persuade moderate creoles. Ultimately, royalist forces captured and executed Morelos in December 1815, ending the first phase of the struggle for independence. His lieutenant, Vicente Guerrero, would continue the fight, leading to Mexico's eventual independence, and Guerrero himself would later serve as president of Mexico in 1829.Sentiments of the Nation are pivotal to understanding Morelos's political and social aims; it reflects concerns specific to Spanish America while still echoing revolutionary ideas from the United States and France. The government and societal structure he envisioned served as a cornerstone for the emerging nation of Mexico.