United States Recognizes Mexican Independence
1822-12-12
Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 weakened imperial authority and opened space for independence movements. Mexican representatives sought American recognition while the outcome remained uncertain, but Washington's neutrality kept those early approaches from producing formal relations. [1]
President James Monroe received José Manuel Zozaya in Washington on 12 December 1822 as the representative of a Mexico that had recently broken from Spain. By accepting him as minister, Monroe recognized Mexican independence and established diplomatic relations between the two countries. [1]
For years the United States had remained formally neutral in Spain’s wars with its American colonies. Monroe now judged that the outcome had become irreversible. In his message to Congress that March, he argued that the new governments deserved recognition once they had secured independence, and asked for the money needed to put that policy into practice. [3]
Washington established its resident mission later. Joel Roberts Poinsett presented his credentials in Mexico City on 1 June 1825. [1]
Monroe's administration feared renewed European intervention in Spain's former colonies and wanted greater commercial access to the region. [2] [1]
Related Diplomats
Sources
- Mexico: recognition and diplomatic relations — Office of the Historian
Recognition and relations, December 12, 1822; legation, 1825; break, April 22, 1914
Summary; United States Recognition of Mexican Independence, 1822; Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, 1822; American Legation in Mexico, 1825
- Monroe Doctrine, 1823
Opening discussion of European intervention fears, recognition of new Latin American states, and the Canning–Adams disagreement over a joint declaration
- Monroe’s message on recognition of the new American states
Assessment of independence, prior neutrality, and request for appropriations
- SRE Historical Diplomatic Archive — Mexican representatives to the United States
Related Reading
Cite This Article
United States Recognizes Mexican Independence. Chanceries Diplopedia. Record 6b2d7492dac0f8752a14. https://chanceries.org/research/history/mexico-recognition-5a42de921b/