The Plan de Iguala — the "Iguala Plan", also known as "Plan of the Three Guarantees" (Plan Trigarante) — was proclaimed on 24 February 1821 in the final phases of Mexico's War of Independence from Spain. It takes its name from the city of Iguala in the modern-day state of Guerrero.

The Plan de Iguala had three goals: one religion (Roman Catholicism), Mexico's independence, and social equality for all social and ethnic groups (Religión, Independencia y Unión). The two main figures behind it were Agustín de Iturbide, the later Emperor of Mexico, and Vicente Guerrero, an insurgent leader and later President of Mexico.

Mexico was to become a constitutional monarchy, similar to those had been emerging among the nations of Europe. The Plan also called for the equality of all inhabitants of Mexico, granting them equal rights in court and in every aspect of their lives.

On 24 August 1821, Iturbide and Spanish Viceroy Juan de O'Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba in Córdoba, Veracruz, ratifiying the Plan de Iguala and confirming Mexico's independence.

The shaky aftermath of the Plan

The Spanish Cortes, meeting in Madrid on 13 February 1822, resolved to declare the Treaty of Córdoba "illegal, null, and void, as respects the Spanish government", thereby reneging on O'Donojú's recognition of independence.

As far as the Mexicans were concerned, following O'Donojú's acceptance of the Plan, their nation was now independent and free to decide its own form of government; Spain's attempts to re-conquer its colony in the ensuing years were all successfully repulsed. After the brief interlude of Iturbide's empire, the Mexican Congress disavowed both the Plan and the Treaty as the basis for government (8 April 1823). A constitutional convention was called, which led to the adoption of the 1824 Constitution of Mexico (4 October 1824).

External link

• Plan de Iguala and other relevant documents (English & Spanish versions)