Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon

After taking control on the cities of Guanajuato, Celaya y Valladolid, Hidalgo and his candid but numerous army took a break in the city of Charo, in October, 1810. Later on, when they were about to leave, a Catholic priest of mixed race approached him to express his sympathy for the cause and his will of joining the fight. Hidalgo then told him to gather together an army throughout the south part of the country and capture the port of Acapulco, for it was one of the main income source for Spain.

Months later, Hidalgo was captured and executed by the Royal Army. Although insipid, the independent cause would have totally declined if it was not for that priest from Valladolid who put together an army of natives, blacks and mixed race people right after. He achieved control on the territory where the States of Michoacan, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Veracruz are now. He was Jose Maria Morelos indeed, under whose leadership the insurgence reached its most effective period.

Orphan from his father at age 14, Morelos had to work at his uncle's hacienda in order to support his mother. He eagerly taught himself grammar, Latin and high Spanish in his spare time. Even when he never married he was father of three children already when he was ordered priest in 1797 at age 32. Much has been discussed about his origin. Whether he had black or native blood, what´s evident is that being of mixed race helped him to gain people´s trust and it was of much importance to shape his independence ideals.

In a speech delivered in Oaxaca, he opposed categorically to slavery; he declared that people who were born in America should regard each other as equals and legitimate owners of the land where they had been born. Later he wrote "Los Sentimientos de la Nacion" (The Feelings of the Nation), a principles declaration that he delivered to the National Congress in Chilpancingo in 1813, and over which the new country´s morals an politics were founded during the arduous years that came after. The congress gave him the titles of "Highness" and "Top General" which he rejected humbly adopting that of "Servant of the Nation".

He was captured in his land and executed as a traitor by the Royal Army in North Mexico City, in 1815. Vicente Guerrero took over the leadership of the rebel troops. He has been honored in the names of the city of Morelia (former Valladolid), the State of Morelos; even a U.S. Ship during World War II was named after him: SS Jose M. Morelos.