The elections of 1809: Transforming political culture in New Spain

In the face of French occupation, the people of Spain in 1809 organized a Junta Suprema Central y Gubernativa del Reino (Supreme Central and Governing Junta of the Kingdom) to represent all the Spanish Monarchy, including the American territories, to coordinate resistance against the French and to sustain and finance the monarchy in the absence of the Spanish king. Elections of representatives to the Junta Central were held throughout the Spanish world during the year. This article relates the processes and results of the elections in New Spain and examines their importance in the development of a democratic political culture in pre-independence Mexico.