panish Americans over from the political inexperience of colonial days and the disorders of revolution to intelligent self…government； which could come only after a practical acquaintance with public concerns on a large scale。 San Martin believed that a limited monarchy was the best form of government under the circumstances。 Bolivar held fast to the idea of a centralized or unitary republic； in which actual power should be exercised by a life president and an hereditary senate until the people； represented in a lower house； should have gained a sufficient amount of political experience。
When San Martin returned to Lima he found affairs in a worse state than ever。 The tyrannical conduct of the officer he had left in charge had provoked an uprising that made his position insupportable。 Conscious that his mission had come to an end and certain that； unless he gave way； a collision with Bolivar was inevitable； San Martin resolved to sacrifice himself lest harm befall the common cause in which both had done such yeoman service。 Accordingly he resigned his power into the hands of a constituent congress and left the country。 But when he found that no happier fortune awaited him in Chile and in his own native land； San Martin decided to abandon Spanish America forever and go into selfimposed exile。 Broken in health and spirit； he took up his residence in France； a recipient of bounty from a Spaniard who had once been his comrade in arms。
Meanwhile in the Mexican part of the viceroyalty of New Spain the cry of independence raised by Morelos and his bands of Indian followers had been stifled by the capture and execution of the leader。 But the cause of independence was not dead even if its achievement was to be entrusted to other hands。 Eager to emulate the example of their brethren in South America； small parties of Spaniards and Creoles fought to overturn the despotic rule of Ferdinand VII； only to encounter defeat from the royalists。 Then came the Revolution of 1820 in the mother country。 Forthwith demands were heard for a recognition of the liberal regime。 Fearful of being displaced from power； the viceroy with the support of the clergy and aristocracy ordered Agustin de Iturbide； a Creole officer who had been an active royalist； to quell an insurrection in the southern part of the country。
The choice of this soldier was unfortunate。 Personally ambitious and cherishing in secret the thought of independence； Iturbide； faithless to his trust； entered into negotiations with the insurgents which culminated February 24； 1821； in what was called the 〃Plan of Iguala。〃 It contained three main provisions； or 〃guarantees；〃 as they were termed： the maintenance of the Catholic religion to the exclusion of all others； the establishment of a constitutional monarchy separate from Spain and ruled by Ferdinand himself； or； if he declined the honor； by some other European prince； and the union of Mexicans and Spaniards without distinction of caste or privilege。 A temporary government also； in the form of a junta presided over by the viceroy； was to be created； and provision was made for the organization of an 〃Army of the Three Guarantees。〃
Despite opposition from the royalists； the plan won increasing favor。 Powerless to thwart it and inclined besides to a policy of conciliation； the new viceroy； Juan O'Donoju； agreed to ratify it on conditionin obedience to a suggestion from Iturbidethat the parties concerned should be at liberty； if they desired； to choose any one as emperor； whether he were of a reigning family or not。 Thereupon； on the 28th of September； the provisional government installed at the city of Mexico announced the consummation of an 〃enterprise rendered eternally memorable； which a genius beyond all admiration and eulogy； love and glory of his country； began at Iguala； prosecuted and carried into effect； overcoming obstacles almost insuparable〃and declared the independence of a 〃Mexican Empire。〃 The act was followed by the appointment of a regency to govern until the accession of Ferdinand VII； or some other personage； to the imperial throne。 Of this body Iturbide assumed the presidency； which carried with it the powers of commander in chief and a salary of 120；000 pesos； paid from the day on which the Plan of Iguala was signed。 O'Donoju contented himself with membership on the board and a salary of one…twelfth that amount； until his speedy demise removed from the scene the last of the Spanish viceroys in North America。
One step more was needed。 Learning that the Cortes in Spain had rejected the entire scheme； Iturbide allowed his soldiers to acclaim him emperor； and an unwilling Congress saw itself obliged to ratify the choice。 On July 21； 1822； the destinies of the country were committed to the charge of Agustin the First。
As in the area of Mexico proper； so in the Central American part of the viceroyalty of New Spain； the Spanish Revolution of 1820 had unexpected results。 Here in the five little provinces composing the captaincy general of Guatemala there was much unrest； but nothing of a serious nature occurred until after news had been brought of the Plan of Iguala and its immediate outcome。 Thereupon a popular assembly met at the capital town of Guatemala； and on September 15； 1821； declared the country an independent state。 This radical act accomplished； the patriot leaders were unable to proceed further。 Demands for the establishment of a federation； for a recognition of local autonomy； for annexation to Mexico； were all heard； and none； except the last； was answered。 While the 〃Imperialists〃 and 〃Republicans〃 were arguing it out； a message from Emperor Agustin announced that he would not allow the new state to remain independent。 On submission of the matter to a vote of the cabildos； most of them approved reunion with the northern neighbor。 Salvador alone among the provinces held out until troops from Mexico overcame its resistance。
On the continents of America； Spain had now lost nearly all its its possessions。 In 1822 the United States had already acquired East Florida on its own account； led off in recognizing the independence of the several republics。 Only in Peru and Charcas the royalists still battled on behalf of the mother country。 In the West Indies； Santo Domingo followed the lead of its sister colonies on the mainland by asserting in 1821 its independence； but its brief independent life was snuffed out by the negroes of Haiti； once more a republic； who spread their control over the entire island。 Cuba also felt the impulse of the times。 But； apart from the agitation of secret societies like the 〃Rays and Suns of Bolivar；〃 which was soon checked； the colony remained tranquil。
In Portuguese America the knowledge of what had occurred throughout the Spanish dominions could not fail to awaken a desire for independence。 The Prince Regent was well aware of the discontent of the Brazilians； but he thought to allay it by substantial concessions。 In 1815 he proceeded to elevate the colony to substantial equality with the mother country by joining them under the title of 〃United Kingdom of Portugal； Brazil； and the Algarves。〃 The next year the Prince Regent himself became King under the name of John IV。 The flame of discontent； nevertheless； continued to smolder。 Republican outbreaks； though quelled without much difficulty； recurred。 Even the reforms which had been instituted by John himself while Regent； and which had assured freer communication with the world at large； only emphasized more and more the absurdity of permitting a feeble little land like Portugal to retain its hold upon a region so extensive and valuable as Brazil。
The events of 1820 in Portugal hastened the movement toward independence。 Fired by the success of their Spanish comrades； the Portuguese liberals forthwith rose in revolt； demanded the establishment of a limited monarchy； and insisted that the King return to his people。 In similar fashion； also； they drew up a constitution which provided for the representation of Brazil by deputies in a future Cortes。 Beyond this they would concede no special privileges to the colony。 Indeed their idea seems to have been that； with the King once more in Lisbon； their own liberties would be secure and those of Brazil would be reduced to what were befitting a mere dependency。 Yielding to the inevitable； the King decided to return to Portugal； leaving the young Crown Prince to act as Regent in the colony。 A critical moment for the little country and its big dominion oversea had indubitably arrived。 John understood the trend of the times； for on the eve of his departure he said to his son： 〃Pedro； if Brazil is to separate itself from Portugal； as seems likely； you take the crown yourself before any one else gets it！〃
Pedro was liberal in sentiment； popular among the Brazilians； and well…disposed toward the aspirations of the country for a larger measure of freedom； and yet not blind to the interests of the dynasty of Braganza。 He readily listened to the urgent pleas of the leaders of the separatist party against obeying the repressive mandaes of the Cortes。 Laws which abolished the central government of the colony and made the various provinces individually subject to Portugal he declined to notice。