Answer:
This essay will attempt to answer the question of “To what extent was Miguel Hidalgo
influenced by the ideals born out of the enlightenment and how did this directly impact the
Mexican War of Independence?”. It will prove that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was influenced
heavily by the enlightenment, and that his being influenced by the enlightenment affected the
ideas of the Mexican War of Independence and what the soldiers were fighting for. This essay
begins by introducing Miguel Hidalgo y Hidalgo and describing his life, showing that the
circumstances of his class and life events gave him much of the influence he needed from the
enlightenment. The next part of the essay describes the bourbon reforms, and how those also
influenced him heavily. It goes into depths on the people such as the Jesuits, and how their
existence was influential to Miguel Hidalgo. Finally, the essay will look into how him being
influenced by the enlightenment influenced the Mexican War of Independence, changing what
they fought for into for a liberal government not ruled by a monarch. By the end of the paper, the
conclusion is reached that the enlightenment ideals were taught to Miguel Hidalgo in several
places and that he actively tried to learn the ideas of the enlightenment by reading books about
the subject. It will tell how this created the Mexican War of Independence because of how
Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla wanted the liberal government spoken of during the enlightenment.
Explanation: