The Plan of Iguala was an essential political document formulated by Agustín de Iturbide and his allies as a strategy to achieve Mexican independence from Spanish colonial rule. It articulated a vision for a free and unified Mexico, encapsulating the desires of diverse factions that had emerged throughout the lengthy war of independence. The plan outlined three principal guarantees: the independence of Mexico, the guarantee of equal rights for all classes, and the sustaining of the Catholic faith as the predominant religion of the new nation. These guarantees were effectively designed to appeal to various groups, including royalists, independence supporters, and the clergy, facilitating a coalition that had previously been fragmented by conflict and distrust.

The proclamation of the Plan took place in Iguala, Guerrero, which became a symbolic site of the independence struggle. The signing of this document not only represented a culmination of nearly a decade of armed struggle but also marked the beginning of a new political era. Just days after its proclamation, Iturbide undertook a significant campaign to gather further support from differing factions and initiated military strategies to enact the plan. The successful implementation led to the widespread acceptance of its ideals, culminating in the eventual declaration of Mexico's independence later that year.

Iturbide’s leadership, bolstered by the Plan of Iguala, would soon see him transition from a military leader to the first emperor of independent Mexico. However, the challenges of uniting a diverse nation and the tensions between different political and social factions would ultimately continue to influence Mexico’s trajectory in the years following its independence. Thus, the significance of the Plan of Iguala cannot be overstated as it laid the groundwork for both the creation of a sovereign state and the complications that arose in forging a unified national identity.