How was Miguel Hidalgo influenced by Enlightenment?

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.