The Bourbon Reforms in the 18 th century prioritised people born in Spain over those born in the colony. Thus, and despite having an acceptable standard of living, colony-born people were barred from attaining administrative posts in the Viceroyalty, positions that were exclusively reserved for those who had been born in the metropolis.
The harsh living conditions and poverty were much worse for the native Indians. A climate of general discontent and escalation of tensions developed which could only result in an uprising against the Spanish authorities. But let us return to the story of our main character. Josefa would always combine her role as wife and mother of 11 children with trying to help out the poorer members of society.
She often took part in charity work to help the Mexican Indians, and as social tensions escalated, she began to work more and more in this field. Josefa Ortiz was the promoter of a group of people who, just like her, were opposed to the powers-that-be at that time, and who aspired to introducing new political and social ideals.
She was orphaned at an early age and she and her elder sister moved to Mexico City. She supported independence from Spain in She was imprisoned on 16 September and after a short time was sent to the Convento de Santa Clara.
She was released, but imprisoned again in the Convento de Santa Catalina on 16 November She was designated empress when independence was declared secure by Iturbide and lived in Mexico City until her death in She was buried in Santa Catalina church.
Thanks to her, Father Miguel Hidalgo moved forward the date in which the Independence movement would start to the early hours of September 16th, Without her timely notice, the struggle for independence would have been discovered and the efforts of the conspirators would never have achieved their ultimate purpose: Mexico's Independence from the Spanish Crown.
She was born in Valladolid what is now Morelia in and was raised in Mexico City. Her parents died when she was a small child so her older sister Maria Sotero was granted custody.
Maria enrolled her sister in the Colegio de las Vizcanas, a very prestigious school to which she was accepted because she was a criolla, creole, that is, the children of Spaniards born in the New Spain.
While still a college student she met Miguel Dominguez, a widower who often visited the school. They fell in love and were married secretly in ; they had 14 children. As secretary of the Royal Court, Miguel Dominguez was subsequently appointed magistrate of Queretaro in where the family settled.
They quickly won over the sympathy of the Queretaro society of the time, joining various social groups. It is well known that Doa Josefa was vehemently against the abuse that the Spaniards that is, the European-born Spaniards exercised over the natives considering and treating them as second-class citizens. She always identified with the natives social problems, for they were relegated to secondary positions in public administration as well as in the military.
Throughout her life she fought for the recognition of the Indigenous people's rights, in addition to using her position as Chief Magistrate to involve herself in numerous charitable ventures.
La Corregidora of Quertaro was a key figure at the very beginning of the struggle for independence. They under estimated Josefa and using sympathizers that were all over town she was able to get the word to all of the hidden rebel leaders and they all escaped to initiate the uprising against Spain.
Josefa paid a price for her patriotism. She was betrayed by a Captain Arias and arrested on September 13, She was defended by her husband but found guilty and confined to the convent of Santa Teresa. She was so outspoken about her captors that they transferred her to another nunnery, Santa Catalina de Siena, where discipline was stricter. She was not released until when the Independence War ended.
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