Mexican Independence: The Cry of Dolores Mexican Independence: The Cry of Dolores Mexican Independence: The Cry of Dolores The Cry of Dolores. Mural by Juan O'Gorman By Christopher Minster Updated September 16, 2015. On the morning of September 16, 1810, the parish priest of the town of Dolores, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla , declared himself in open revolt against Spanish rule from the pulpit of his church, launching the Mexican War of Independence. He exhorted his following to take up arms and join him in his fight against the injustices of the Spanish colonial system and within moments he had an army of some 600 men. This action became known as the "Grito de Dolores" or "Cry of Dolores" and today Mexicans celebrate September 16 as their Independence Day . Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla: Father Miguel Hidalgo was a fifty-seven year old Creole who was beloved by his parishioners for his tireless efforts on their behalf. He was considered one of the leading religious minds of Mexico, having served as rector of the San Nicolas Obisbo academy.

He had been banished to Dolores for his questionable record in the church: namely fathering children and reading prohibited books. continue reading below our video What Is Mexican Independence Day? He had suffered personally under the Spanish system: his family had been ruined when the crown forced the church to call in debts. He was a believer in the new philosophy that stated that it was allowable to overthrow unjust tyrants. The Querétaro Conspiracy: By 1810, a couple of failed attempts by Creole leaders to secure Mexican independence had already taken place, but discontent was high. The town of Querétaro soon developed its own group of men and women in favor of independence. The leader was Ignacio Allende , a Creole officer with the local military regiment. The members of the group felt they needed another member: someone with moral authority, a good relationship with the poor and decent contacts in neighboring towns. Miguel Hidalgo was recruited and joined sometime in early 1810. Preparations: The conspirators selected early December 1810 as their time to strike. They ordered weapons made, mostly pikes and swords. They felt out royal soldiers and officers and persuaded many to join their cause.

They scouted nearby royalist barracks and garrisons and spent many hours talking about what a post-Spanish society in Mexico would be like. El Grito de Dolores: On September 15, 1810, the conspirators received the bad news: their conspiracy had been found out. Allende was in Dolores at the time and wanted to go into hiding: Hidalgo convinced him that the right option was to go forward. On the morning of the 16th, Hidalgo rang the church bells, summoning the workers from the nearby fields. From the pulpit he announced the revolution: "Know this, my children, that knowing your patriotism, I have put myself at the head of a movement begun some hours ago, to wrest away power from the Europeans and give it to you." The people responded enthusiastically. Aftermath : Hidalgo would battle royalist forces right to the gates of Mexico City itself, although his “army” was never much more than a poorly-armed and uncontrolled mob more interested in murdering hated Spaniards and looting than any lofty principles of Independence.

The army would fight at the siege of Guanajuato, Monte de las Cruces and a couple of other engagements before being defeated by General Félix Calleja at the Battle of Calderon Bridge in January of 1811. Hidalgo and Allende were captured soon thereafter and executed. Legacy of the Cry of Dolores: The Cry of Dolores marked the beginning of the long and bloody Mexican War of Independence, which would not conclude until 1821. Millions were killed or displaced in this long conflict. During his trial, Hidalgo seemed to understand what he had wrought and recanted his actions, perhaps foreseeing the bloodbath to come. The Cry of Dolores was the spark that ignited the tinderbox of long pent-up resentment of the Spanish in Mexico. Taxes had been raised to pay for fiascoes like the disastrous (for Spain) 1805 Battle of Trafalgar and in 1808 Napoleon invaded Spain, deposed the king and placed his brother Joseph Bonaparte on the throne.

The combination of this ineptitude from Spain with long-standing abuses and exploitation of the poor was enough to drive tens of thousands of Indians and peasants to join Hidalgo and his army. Although Hidalgo’s revolution was a short-lived one – he was executed some ten months after the Cry of Dolores – it nevertheless lasted long enough to catch on, and when Hidalgo was executed, there were already many in place to pick up his cause, most notably his former student José María Morelos . Today, Mexicans celebrate their Independence Day with fireworks, food, flags and decorations. In the public squares of most cities, towns and villages, local politicians re-enact the Grito de Dolores, standing in for Hidalgo. In Mexico City, the President traditionally re-enacts the Grito before ringing a bell: the very bell from the town of Dolores rung by Hidalgo in 1810. Many foreigners mistakenly assume that May fifth, or Cinco de Mayo , is Mexico’s Independence Day , but that date actually commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla . Sources: Harvey, Robert.

Liberators: Latin America’s Struggle for Independence Woodstock: The Overlook Press, 2000. Lynch, John. The Spanish American Revolutions 1808-1826 New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1986. Scheina, Robert L. Latin America’s Wars, Volume 1: The Age of the Caudillo 1791-1899 Washington, D.C.: Brassey’s Inc., 2003. Villalpando, José Manuel. Miguel Hidalgo. Mexico City: Editorial Planeta, 2002.

Mexican War of Independence begins - Sep 16, 1810 - HISTORY.com Mexican War of Independence begins Share this: Mexican War of Independence begins Author Mexican War of Independence begins URL Publisher A+E Networks Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, launches the Mexican War of Independence with the issuing of his Grito de Dolores, or “Cry of Dolores,” The revolutionary tract, so-named because it was publicly read by Hidalgo in the town of Dolores, called for the end of 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico, redistribution of land, and racial equality. Thousands of Indians and mestizos flocked to Hidalgo’s banner of the Virgin of Guadalupe, and soon the peasant army was on the march to Mexico City. In the early 19th century, Napoleon’s occupation of Spain led to the outbreak of revolts all across Spanish America. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla–“the father of Mexican independence”–launched the Mexican rebellion with his “Cry of Delores,” and his populist army came close to capturing the Mexican capital.

Defeated at Calderón in January 1811, he fled north but was captured and executed. He was followed by other peasant leaders, however, such as José María Morelos y Pavón, Mariano Matamoros, and Vicente Guerrero, who all led armies of native and racially mixed revolutionaries against the Spanish and the Royalists. Ironically, it was the Royalists–made up of Mexicans of Spanish descent and other conservatives–who ultimately brought about independence. In 1820, liberals took power in Spain, and the new government promised reforms to appease the Mexican revolutionaries. In response, Mexican conservatives called for independence as a means of maintaining their privileged position in Mexican society. In early 1821, Agustín de Iturbide, the leader of the Royalist forces, negotiated the Plan of Iguala with Vicente Guerrero. Under the plan, Mexico would be established as an independent constitutional monarchy, the privileged position of the Catholic Church would be maintained, and Mexicans of Spanish descent would be regarded as equal to pure Spaniards. Mexicans of mixed or pure Indian blood would have lesser rights.

Iturbide defeated the Royalist forces still opposed to independence, and the new Spanish viceroy, lacking money, provisions, and troops, was forced to accept Mexican independence. On August 24, 1821, Spanish Viceroy Juan de O’Donojú signed the Treaty of Córdoba, which approves a plan to make Mexico an independent constitutional monarchy. In 1822, as no Bourbon monarch to rule Mexico had been found, Iturbide was proclaimed the emperor of Mexico. However, his empire was short-lived, and in 1823 republican leaders Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria deposed Iturbide and set up a republic, with Guadalupe Victoria as its first president. Related Videos History of Mexican Independence and Hildago's "Grito de Dolores - De La Independencia in Mexico" The History of Mexican Independence Introduction Mexican Independence Day celebrates the events and people that eventually resulted in independence from Spain, the country that had control over the territory of New Spain, as it was also known then.

Fueled by three centuries of oppression and sparked by a call (Grito de Dolores) to revolt in 1810 by the respected Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo, the first call to arms was made in the village of Dolores, in the state of Guanajuato . The uprising pitted the poor indigenous indians and mixed mestizo groups against the priviledged classes of Spanish descent, and pushed them into a violent and bloody battle for freedom from Spain. In 2010 Mexico celebrated 200 years of Independence with national and local public events. The Bicentennial or Bicentenario actually takes in two celebrations: the first being the Bicentennial of two hundred years since Independence (1810) and the second the no less important Centennial of 100 years since Mexican Revolution of 1910 . Setting The Stage Shortly before dawn on September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made a monumentous decision that revolutionized the course of Mexican history. Within hours, Hidalgo, a Catholic priest in the village of Dolores, ordered the arrest of Dolores' native Spaniards.

Then Hidalgo rang the church bell as he customarily did to call the indians to mass. The message that Hidalgo gave to the indians and mestizos called them to retaliate against the hated Gachupines, or native Spaniards, who had exploited and oppressed Mexicans for ten generations. Although a movement toward Mexican independence had already been in progress since Napoleon's conquest of Spain, Hidalgo's passionate declaration was a swift, unpremeditated decision on his part. "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!", (Mexicans, long live Mexico!) Hidalgo told the Mexicans who were the members of New Spain's lowest caste. He urged the exploited and embittered Mexicans to recover the lands that was stolen from their forefathers. That he was calling these people to revolution was a radical change from the original revolution plot devised by the Criollos, or Mexican-born Spaniards. Groups of Criollos across Mexico had been plotting to overthrow the authority of Gachupines who, because of their Spanish birth, had legal and social priority over the Mexican born Criollos. When Joseph Bonaparte replaced King Ferdinand as the leader of Spain, the Criollos recognized a prime opportunity for Mexican sovereignity.

The nucleus of this movement was a group of intellectuals in Queretaro led by the Corregidor of Queretaro (state official), his wife and a group of army officers distinguished by the adventurous Ignacio Allende. The Criollos plan for revolution did not originally focus on the manpower of the Mexicans. Instead, the Criollos sought to avoid military confrontation by convincing Criollo army officers to sever their allegiance to the Gachupines. By claiming loyalty to the defeated King Ferdinand, the Criollos aimed to establish Mexico as an independent nation within King Ferdinand's Spanish empire. The Gachupines who claimed authority under Bonaparte's rule would be driven out of Mexico. Hidalgo had close ties with this group. Approaching sixty years of age, Hidalgo was beloved and greatly respected by Mexicans. Once the dean of the College of San Nicolas at Valladolid in Michoacan (now Morelia), Hidalgo was a well-educated, courageous humanitarian. He was sympathetic to the Indians, which was unusual amongst Mexican clergymen. Against Gachupin law, Hidalgo taught Indians to plant olives, mulberries and grapevines and to manufacture pottery and leather.

His actions irritated the Spanish viceroy who, as a punitive measure, cut down Hidalgo's trees and vines. A Decision Is Made Gachupines were alerted to the Criollos independence movement by Criollo officers who had refused to join the revolutionary movement, and by a priest who had learned of the plot through a confessional. Hidalgo was among the central figures targeted for arrest on September 13, 1810. The Queretaro Corregidor's wife informed the Criollos of the Gachupines plan. Allende immediately departed from Quertaro to inform Hidalgo. Allende arrived in Dolores in the early morning hours of September 16. His message forced Hidalgo to make the most signficant decision of his life, a decision which marked the first struggle for Mexican independence and that would distinguish Hidalgo as the national hero of the revolution. The Criollos had not gained enough military alliance to forfeit the Gachupines rule, as the plot had leaked three months before the Criollos target date of December 8. Hidalgo had three possible options. He could await arrest, flee Dolores or call on the Indian and Mestizo forces.

His decision to call the exploited groups to revolution completely changed the character of the revolution, and the movement became a bloody class struggle instead of a shrewd political maneuver. The Revolution Erupts When Hidalgo called the Indians to action, he tapped into powerful forces that had been simmering for over three hundred years. With clubs, slings, axes, knives, machetes and intense hatred, the Indians took on the challenge of the Spanish artillery. When the indian and mestizo forces, led by Hidalgo and Allende, reached the next village en route to Mexico city, they acquired a picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe , the patron saint whose image was of a woman of color. The Virgin of Guadalupe, who was indigenous to Mexico, became the banner of the revolutionary forces as Hidalgo and Allende led the path toward Mexico City and the expulsion of the Gachupines. Hidalgo later regretted the bloodbath he had incited with his fateful "Cry of Dolores." When he made his hasty decision in the pre-dawn hours of September 16, he had not foreseen the mass slaughter of Spaniards.

Before the revolutionary troops descended upon Mexico City, Hidalgo retreated with only a few associates to Dolores, where he would be executed by the Gachupines only a year later. Despite his ambiguity toward the violent class struggle that was the Mexican revolution, Hidalgo is still revered as the father of Mexican independence. Eleven years of war, decades of despotic Mexican rulers and political unrest proceeded Hidalgo's cry of Dolores. Yet throughout the years of turmoil, El Grito de Dolores, "Mexicanos, viva Mexico," has persevered. Every year at midnight on September 15, Mexicans led by the president of Mexico shout the Grito, honoring the crucial and impulsive action that was the catalyst for the country's bloody struggle for independence from Spain. [Text updated April, 2007] [Educational or citation fair use is permitted, please quote your source as Mexonline.com] Independence Day in Mexico Home Calendar Holidays Mexico Independence Day Independence Day in Mexico Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican holiday to celebrate the “cry of independence” on September 16, 1810, which started a revolt against the Spaniards.

It follows from the day of the Cry of Dolores (El Grito de Dolores) , on September 15. Image of Miguel Hidalgo, a leader who fought for Mexico's independence. Image of Miguel Hidalgo, who fought for Mexico's independence. ©iStockphoto.com/aolr Celebrate Independence Day Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties (fiestas), food, dance and music on September 16. Flags, flowers and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – are seen in public areas in cities and towns in Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate this festive occasion. "Viva Mexico" or "Viva la independencia” are shouted amidst the crowds on this day. Public Life Independence Day is a national public holiday in Mexico. Banks, schools, government offices and many businesses are closed. Some streets and roads may be closed or restricted in major cities to make way for large celebrations. People intending on travelling via public transport in Mexico should check with public transit authorities on any timetable or route changes.

About Independence Day Independence Day celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico. There is no scholarly agreement on what was exactly said by Hidalgo, but his speech, also known as the cry of Dolores (el Grito de Dolores), was made on September 16, 1810 to motivate people to revolt against the Spanish regime. Hidalgo’s army fought against the Spanish soldiers in the fight for independence, but he was captured and executed on July 30, 1811. Mexico's independence was not declared until September 28, 1821. Did You Know? Miguel Hidalgo was a priest but was also known to have lived outside the parameters of celibacy. He was believed to have fathered children, including 2 daughters.

Mexico's Independence Day - September 16 Mexico's Independence Day - September 16 In the early nineteenth century, Mexico, with a little influence from the US and France, began talking about a revolt against Spain. Father Miguel Hidalgo from Dolores, Mexico, was a leader of one of the rallying groups. Hidalgo and his officers were planning a revolt for late fall of 1810. The Spanish people found out about the revolt which led the Spanish Government to order the arrest of Hidalgo and his officers. When Hidalgo found out, he called a meeting at his church. He rang the church bell on the night of September 15, 1810 to call his congregation to mass. Here Father Hidalgo rallied the people to fight. He gave the speech which is now known as 'Grito de Delores', saying "Viva Mexico" and "Viva la independencia!" These famous words have been remembered and are said each year at the Independence Day celebrations. Everyone fought together, including the Criollos (wealthy Mexicans of Spanish descent), Mesizos (children born from the marriage of a Spaniard and an Indian), and Indians.

Armed with clubs, knives, stone slings, and ancient guns, they fought as they marched to Mexico City. A battle took place in Guanajuato between the Spanish soldiers and Hidalgo's followers. The army sacked the town, killing the Spaniards. They continued to fight on their way to the capital. When they finally reached Mexico City, the army hesitated before going in to fight and some of them even disserted the army. Before the year was over Father Hidalgo was captured and executed. Some people continued to fight for the cause and Father Hidalgo's Grito de Delores (Cry of Delores) became the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. The people fought for eleven years before they finally won their freedom. Today Mexican Independence Day is a major celebration in Mexico and is bigger than Cinco de Mayo. It is celebrated with a fiesta (party). The celebrating begins on September 15 (the eve of Independence Day) where crowds of people gather in the zocalos (town meeting place) of cities, towns, and villages. In Mexico City a huge square is decorated with flags, flowers and lights of red, white, and green.

People sell confetti, whistles, horns, paper-machete helmets, and toys in the colors of red, white and green. There is also plenty of feasting! When the clock strikes eleven o'clock the crowd gets silent. On the last strike of eleven the president of Mexico steps out on the palace balcony, and rings the historic liberty bell that Father Hidalgo rang to call the people. Then the president gives the Grito de Delores. He shouts "Viva Mexico" "Viva la independencia" and the crowd echoes back. People do this at the same time all across Mexico. While the crowd says this they fill the air with confetti, streamers and hoopla. Castillos explode in showers of red, white, and green. The actual day of September 16 is similar to July Fourth in the US. There are rodeos, parades, bullfights, horseback rider performances and grand feasts. The statues in memory of Father Hidalgo are decorated with red, white, and green flowers. The Mexican Flag is made up of green, white, and red. The green is on the left side of the flag and symbolizes independence.

White is the color in the middle of the flag and symbolizes religion. The red is on the right side of the flag and symbolizes union. These colors are used often in decorating for the Mexican Independence Day fiesta. Mexican Independence New Spain-Index | Coahuila y Tejas-Index Mexican Independence With these developments, Texas became part of an independent Mexico and the "Lone Star" of hope for a second democratic, multi-cultural Federal Republic in America. Diez y seis de Septiembre (16 September)--Texans, may we always revere and celebrate this milestone of our liberty and independence-- Don Guillermo "a todo el mundo...[I am] repentent for the incalculable ills which have originated out of the frenzy which possessed [me] to break so scandalously with the King, the nation, and Christian morality..." --Statement extracted by Inquisitors prior to execution 1811 The stage for the upheaval and dissatisfaction that gave rise to Mexican independence was set by political and economic changes in Europe and its American colonies of the late 18th and 19th centuries.

The French revolution and Napoleonic wars diverted attention of Spain from its colonies leaving a vacuum and increasing dissatisfaction and desire for local government. The forced removal of Ferdinand VII from the Spanish throne and his replacement by Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother presented opportunity for Mexican intelligentsia to promote independence in the name of the legitimate Spanish king. From its inception the colonial government of New Spain was dominated by Spanish born Peninsulares or Guachapins, who held most leadership positions in the church and government, in contrast to Mexican-born Criollos (Creoles) who were the ten to one majority. Neither Peninsulares or upper class Criollos desired to involve the masses of native Indians and mestizos in government or moves for local control. In 1808 the Peninsulares learned of Viceroy Jose de Iturrigaray s intent to form a junta with Creole factions, a move that he thought might make him King of an independent Mexican kingdom. In an armed attack on the palace, Peninsulares arrested Iturrigaray and replaced him with puppet Pedro Garibay after which they carried out bloody reprisals against Criollos who were suspected of disloyalty.

Although reform movements paused, political and economic instability in Europe continued as well as hardship and unrest in the Americas. One liberal organization that was forced underground was the Literary Club of Queretaro which formed for intellectual discussion, but in practice became a planning organization for revolution. Independence- and reform-oriented thinkers also began to consider enlisting the native Indian, mestizo and lower class masses in wresting control from the Peninsulares and in armed independence movements. Queretaro was an important agricultural region that had suffered extensively by economic stalemate and failure. An active member of the group was Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a well-educated liberal priest who questioned policies of the church including clerical celibacy, banning certain literature, infallibility of the pope and the virgin birth of Christ. Hidalgo became the curator of Dolores in 1803 with primarily an Indian congregation whose languages he spoke and to whom he administered practical skills of life as much as religious doctrine. In Queretaro, Hidalgo met Capt. Ignacio Allende, a revolutionary thinker in the Spanish army.

In spring 1810, Allende and Hidalgo planned an uprising for December of the year that leaked out to Spanish authorities and their arrest was ordered. In September 1810, Father Hidalgo was forced to prematurely distribute the Grito de Dolores to his parishoners and nearby residents which was an appeal for social and economic reform. With little organization and no training, essentially a mob of thousands of primarily Indians and mestizos overwhelmed royal forces in Guanajuato, and proceeded to murder and loot both Peninsulares, Criollos and other "whites" in their path. The force continued to Mexico City and defeated royalist on the outskirts, but did not enter and occupy the city after which the ragged revolutionary army returned home. Hidalgo and his Creole officers were later able to assemble an army of 80,000 by payment with looted Peninsulare gold and assets. Viceroy Francisco Javier Venegas, and his soon to be successor Gen.

Félix María Calleja del Rey responded to the insurgency with a vengeance and in January 1811 Hidalgo suffered a serious defeat outside Guadalajara where rebel forces were routed at Calderon Bridge. Bloody retaliation followed by mass executions of suspected rebel sympathizers by Spanish crown forces under Viceroy Calleja del Rey. Hidalgo and associates turned toward the northern provinces Nuevo Santander, Nuevo León, Coahuila and Texas for refuge where local sympathy for the rebellion and independence continued. Royalist forces in Nuevo Santander refused to fight against the insurgents as well as troops under Governor Manuel Antonio Cordero y Bustamante in Coahuila. As the royalist forces moved north to crush resistance, it was only in Coahuila and Texas that revolutionary events continued. On 21 March 1811, a periodic rebel turned loyalist, Ignacio Elizondo , ambushed Ignacio Allende, Father Hidalgo and associates at the Wells of Baján on the road to Monclova in Coahuila. Hidalgo and associates were captured and executed in Chihuahua.

sdct Hidalgo Archives: Selected Original Documents Father Hidalgo's Grito de Dolores From The Hidalgo Revolt by Hugh Hamill. At the core of Mexican patriotism is Hidalgo's Grito de Dolores. Every year, on the night of September 15-16, the President of the Republic "reenacts" the Grito on a balcony of the National Palace as the climax of the Independence Day celebrations. To do this with historical accuracy is well-nigh impossible, for no one knows precisely what Hidalgo said. The three principal contemporary reports fail to agree. Sotelo's account, the most confused and least authoritative, stated that the Grito was a short speech made from the window of the priest's house to the first group of followers who assembled before dawn. Hidalgo "animated them to begin vigorously the enterprise of our Independence, and raising his voice with great valor, said: Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe, Long Live Independence." Pedro Garcia, who probably did not join the insurgent army until it passed through his native San Miguel el Grande, reported that after all the events of the night had occurred people began to assemble for early morning Mass at the parish church.

They found no one there to conduct the service. Having heard rumors of the Cura's midnight activities, a large number of parishioners gathered in front of Hidalgo's house. The priest, seeing it was time to explain his actions and gain more adherents, came out of the entrance hall and said, "My friends and countrymen: neither the king nor tributes exist for us any longer. We have borne this shameful tax, which only suits slaves, for three centuries as a sign of tyranny and servitude; [a] terrible stain which we shall know how to wash away with our efforts. The moment of our freedom has arrived, the hour of our liberty has struck; and if you recognized its great value, you will help me defend it from the ambitious grasp of the tyrants. Only a few hours remain before you see me at the head of the men who take pride in being free. I invite you to fulfill this obligation. And so without a patria nor liberty we shall always be at a great distance from true happiness. It has been imperative to take this step as now you know, and to begin this has been necessary. The cause is holy and God will protect it.

The arrangements are hastily being made and for that reason I will not have the satisfaction of talking to you any longer. Long live, then, the Virgin of Guadalupe! Long live America for which we are going to fight!" Juan de Aldama's account of the Grito was recorded only a few months after the event. His version indicates some practical considerations but omits mention of any climactic conclusion to Hidalgo's speech. At about eight o'clock in the morning "there were gathered more than six hundred men on foot and horseback for it was Sunday and they had come to Mass from the nearby Ranches, and the cura exhorted them to join him and help him defend the Kingdom because they [Yermo, Aguirre, et al.] wanted to turn it over to the French: that now oppression had reached an end: that there was no longer any tribute: that those who enlisted with horses and Arms would be paid a peso daily, and those on foot four reales." Aldama added that "the delivery of the Kingdom to the French was nothing more than a pretext for a very opposite end." We know from Hidalgo's own statements that he was convinced from the start that independence should be the goal of the rebellion.

This conviction was known by Captain Arias before the Grito, for Juan Ochoa wrote on September 11 that "Dr. [sic] Hidalgo Cura of Dolores is the principal promoter and [he] who suggests the ideas, and his plan is reduced to independence." Nevertheless, it is extremely doubtful that Hidalgo repudiated the King and raised the cry of "Long Live Independence!" Aldama's version of Hidalgo's address is the most reliable. In view of the early insistence by insurgent proclamations that the Revolt was to protect the Kingdom from the French and that all was being carried out in the name of Ferdinand VII, it seems most unlikely that Hidalgo would have rejected this approach at the beginning---the most crucial and vulnerable moment of any rebellion. The fear of the French and the good name of Ferdinand were successful devices for arousing popular enthusiasm. Even Hidalgo with all his impetuosity was not so rash as to risk failure by making the wrong appeal to the masses.

He probably recalled Pedro Septien's reminder, reported in Allende's letter of August 31, that "the Indians were indifferent to the word liberty." The most convincing argument against the use of "Independence" in the Grito lies in the fact that Hidalgo and the others were successful in capturing Dolores and raising an initial army of between 500 and 800 men. If such success had been achieved in the name of independence, why did revolutionary propaganda for the next two months rely so heavily on the promise to support Ferdinand VII? What Hidalgo said in Dolores will probably never be known. It is reasonable to suppose, however, that the climax of his speech included one or all of the following: Long Live Ferdinand VII! Long Live America! Long Live Religion! and Death to Bad Government! The plans of the Valladolid Conspiracy provided a precedent for abolition of the tribute and outlaw of slavery and the caste system to attract the Indians ["naturals" or American natives]. We may be almost certain that Hidalgo promised its end (see Hidalgo's Edict Against Slavery ). Exploitation of the French threat led naturally to a declaration in defense of religion, another subject of mass appeal.

Many believed that Spanish authorities had accepted the anti-Catholic views of the French Revolution. The incorporation of the Virgin of Guadalupe as the principal standard of the rebels took place later in the same day. The cry of "Long Live Our Lady of Guadalupe" was probably not raised until then. Among the Queretaro Conspirators was a grocer named Epigmenio González (1778-1858) whose store and personal effects were seized upon discovery of the Hidalgo conspiracy in fall 1810. The sketch at left was among Gonzales's papers which is a cartoon using the historic Aztec symbol of an eagle perched on cactus. Instead of the snake, the tail of the Spanish lion is in the Mexican eagle's mouth. The lion cries "Long Live America." The caption at top reads "If you confess that America lives, you die, and if you do not die, you will be shorn of your tail, left abject, and stripped of your dominion, pride and honor." The cartoon is thought to depict the intellectual political thinking of the criollos insurgents at a time when most of European Spain was under French domination.

There was no way that Spain would admit French influence over New Spain (America). If America separate from France was acknowledged, then French domination of European Spain is admitted. If Spain does not recognize New Spanish America and hold her, then Mexico will fill the gap. The crown above the eagle is thought to suggest that the conspirators objective was autonomy under the monarchy. sdct "Lord , if I have done well, thou knowest it; if ill, to thy infinite mercy I commend my soul."--Last statement prior to execution 1815 "...... with three such men as Jose Morelos, I could conquer the world."---Napoleon Bonaparte If Morelos had lived to the year 1821, Iturbide would not have been able to take control of the national insurrection; and the nation would not have passed through a half century of shameful and bloody revolution which caused it to lose half of its territory.

Today it would be the powerful republic which we would have expected from seventy years of development initiated by the courage, the abnegation, prudence, and political skill, of which that extraordinary man was the model--written by Porfirio Diaz in 1891 in the album of tributes to Morelos in Casa de Morelos in Morelia (Banner at top right is the Battle Flag of Morelos forces inscribed in Latin "She conquers equally with her eyes and her talons.") After Hidalgos death, mestizo parish priest José Morelos was able to organize a number of the independent chieftains across Mexico, established a Congress which created a declaration of rights and independence from Spain under King Ferdinand VII and a Constitution (See Sentimientos de la Nacion ) which included abolition of slavery and equality of classes (See Decree Concerning Castes ). Morelos, José María Cos and José María Liceaga served as an Executive Junta (Poder Ejecutivo). Father Morelos was captured while attempting to escort the Congress from Vallilodad to join the troops of Gen. Manuel Mier y Ter�n in Puebla.

He is said to have diverted the royal troops attention to a small diversionary force of which he was at the head from the Congress. After capture, Morelos was tried by both military tribunals and the Inquisition. He was defrocked/degraded and executed in December 1815. Gen. Manuel Mier y Terán inherited the leadership of the movement after the death of Morelos, but was unable to unite it. Diverse and independent guerrilla and militia with various motives and loyalties, hostile to the established order continued throughout the provinces including Texas. This dissension facilitated Viceroy Calleja's forces to sequentially crush or keep under control the fragmented movement. The subsequent Viceroy Juan Ruiz de Apodaca took a conciliatory stance offering amnesty to former rebels, which according to some historians was much more successful in pacification than the bloody reprisals of Calleja. Until 1820, any organized movement for Mexican independence, except the filibustering action of Xavier Mina and others primarily based in Texas, lay dormant.

sdct Morelos Archives: Selected Original Documents Emperor Agustín Iturbide "Mexicans!...tell your children ...to think with kindness of the first Chief of the Army of the Three Guarantees...if my children should stand in need of your protection, remember that their father spent the best season of his life in laboring for your welfare!"---Iturbide prior to execution 1824 Motivated by events in Spain which forced post-Napoleonic and tyrannical King Ferdinand VII to restore elements of constitutional government (Constitution of 1812), former Royalist commander Agustín Iturbide, a mestizo accepted as a criollo who opposed the insurgent approach to independence, formed a junta with revolutionary Vicente Guerro to engineer Mexican independence in 1821. He was first groomed by church officials, plotters of the Church of Profesa, whose power and wealth was threatened by liberal Spanish reforms. Independence and maintenance of their local authority in Mexico was their only recourse.

They persuaded the Viceroy to appoint Iturbide head of the force preparing to destroy Vicente Guerrero's stronghold, one of the most consistent and most active resistance leader from the time of Morelos' death. Instead of a battle and backed by other conservative and liberal factions in Mexico, they formulated and announced on 24 Feb 1821 the Plan de Iguala after the village of their meeting in the current state of Guerrero. The plan for a constitutional monarchy called for an independent Mexican nation with limited monarchy with the Bourbons having first right to the throne, but if declined an emperor would be elected. Also known as the Plan, Army, or Government of the Three Guarantees (Las Tres Garantias), provided for protection of the Catholic faith without toleration for other and rights and properties of the clergy, Mexican independence and equality of Peninsulares and American Criollos. Numerous factions including older and inactive revolutionaries, new criollo chieftains formed since the death of Morelos and officers of the royal government began to join the movement. The position of Emperor was offered to Ferdinand VII himself provided he would occupy the throne in person and uphold a Constitution of Mexico.

Viceroy Apodaca was offered the position of President of a junta to implement the new government, but declared against it and resigned. Newly-appointed and last Viceroy of New Spain, Juan de ODonoju, arrived and assessing the situation agreed to meet and accept the Plan of Iguala which resulted in the Treaty of Cordova of 24 Aug 1821. A Junta resulted with Iturbide as Admiral and Generalissimo. After the death of ODonoju and formation of a factionalized Congress of Bourbonites, Republicans and Imperialists, Iturbide was proclaimed as Emperor of Mexico by his military and the Congress was dissolved. (photo: The Charlotte & Maximilian Collection ) sdct With these developments, Texas became part of an independent Mexico and the "Lone Star" of hope for a second democratic, multi-cultural Federal Republic in America. Digital History Digital History Digital History ID 3260 American settlement in Texas began with the encouragement of first the Spanish, and then Mexican, governments.

In the summer of 1820 Moses Austin, a bankrupt 59-year old Missourian, asked Spanish authorities for a large Texas land tract which he would promote and sell to American pioneers. The request by Austin seemed preposterous. His background was that of a Philadelphia dry goods merchant, a Virginia mine operator, a Louisiana judge, and a Missouri banker. But early in 1821, the Spanish government gave him permission to settle 300 families in Texas. Spain welcomed the Americans for two reasons--to provide a buffer against illegal U.S. settlers, who were creating problems in east Texas even before the grant was made to Austin, and to help develop the land, since only 3,500 native Mexicans had settled in Texas (which was part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas). Moses Austin did not live to see his dream realized. On a return trip from Mexico City, he died of exhaustion and exposure. Before he died, his son Stephen promised to carry out the dream of colonizing Texas.

By the end of 1824, young Austin had attracted 272 colonists to Texas, and had persuaded the newly independent Mexican government that the best way to attract Americans was to give land agents (called empresarios) 67,000 acres of land for every 200 families they brought to Texas. Mexico imposed two conditions on land ownership: settlers had to become Mexican citizens, and they had to convert to Roman Catholicism. By 1830 there were 16,000 Americans in Texas. At that time, Americans formed a 4-to-1 majority in the northern section of Coahuila y Tejas, but people of Hispanic heritage formed a majority in the state as a whole. As the Anglo population swelled, Mexican authorities grew increasingly suspicious of the growing American presence. Mexico feared that the United States planned to use the Texas colonists to acquire the province by revolution. Differences in language and culture had produced bitter enmity between the colonists and native Mexicans. The colonists refused to learn the Spanish language, maintained their own separate schools, and conducted most of their trade with the United States.

To reassert its authority over Texas, the Mexican government reaffirmed its Constitutional prohibition against slavery, established a chain of military posts occupied by convict soldiers, restricted trade with the United States, and decreed an end to further American immigration. Santa Anna These actions might have provoked Texans to revolution. But in 1832, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, a Mexican politician and soldier, became the president of Mexico. Colonists hoped that he would make Texas a self-governing state within the Mexican republic. But once in power, Santa Anna proved to be less liberal than many Texans had believed. In 1834, he overthrew the constitutional government of Mexico, abolished state governments, and made himself dictator. When Stephen Austin went to Mexico City to try to settle the grievances of the Texans, Santa Anna imprisoned him in a Mexican jail for a year. On November 3, 1835, American colonists adopted a constitution and organized a temporary government, but voted overwhelmingly against declaring independence. A majority of colonists hoped to attract the support of Mexican liberals in a joint effort to depose Santa Anna and to restore power to the state governments, hopefully including a separate state of Texas.

Sam Houston While holding out the possibility of compromise, the Texans prepared for war by electing Sam Houston commander of whatever military forces he could muster. Houston, one of the larger-than-life figures who helped win Texas independence, Houston had run away from home at the age of 15 and lived for three years with the Cherokee Indians in eastern Tennessee. During the War of 1812, he had fought in the Creek War under Andrew Jackson. At 30 he was elected to the House of Representatives and at 34 he was elected governor of Tennessee. Many Americans regarded him as the heir apparent to Andrew Jackson. Then, suddenly, in 1829, scandal struck. Houston married a woman 17 years younger than himself. Within three months, the marriage was mysteriously annulled. Depressed and humiliated, Houston resigned as governor. After wandering about the country as a near derelict, he returned to live with the Cherokee in present day Arkansas and Oklahoma. During his stay with the tribe, Houston was instrumental in forging peace treaties among several warring Indian nations. In 1832, Houston traveled to Washington to demand that President Jackson live up to the terms of the removal treaty.

Jackson did not meet his demands, but instead sent Houston unofficially to Texas to keep an eye on the American settlers and the growing anti-Mexican sentiment. In the middle of 1835, scattered local outbursts erupted against Mexican rule. Then, a band of 300-500 Texas riflemen, who comprised the entire Texas army, captured the Mexican military headquarters in San Antonio. Revolution was underway. The Alamo Soon, the ominous news reached Texas that Santa Anna himself was marching north with 7,000 soldiers to crush the revolt. In actuality, the army of Santa Anna was not particularly impressive; it was filled with raw recruits, and included many Indian troops who spoke and understood little Spanish. When Houston learned that the initial goal of Santa Anna was to recapture San Antonio, he ordered San Antonio abandoned. But, 150 Texas rebels decided to defend the city and made their stand at an abandoned Spanish mission, the Alamo. The Texans were led by William Travis and Jim Bowie, and included the frontier hero David Crockett. For twelve days, Mexican forces lay siege to the Alamo.

Travis issued an appeal for reinforcements, but only 32 men were able to cross Mexican lines. Legend has it that on the evening of March 5, 1836, Travis, realizing that defense of the Alamo was futile, drew a line in the dirt with his sword. Only those willing to die for Texas independence, Travis announced to the garrison, should step across the line and defend the Alamo. All but two men did. One refused to cross the line, and another, Jim Bowie, too sick to move from his cot, called over some friends and had them carry him across the line. At 5 a.m., March 6, Mexican troops scaled the walls of the mission. By 8 a.m., the fighting was over. 183 defenders lay dead--including several Mexican defenders who had fought for Texas independence. (Seven defenders surrendered and were immediately executed, and approximately 15 persons survived, including an American woman and her child). Mexican forces soaked the bodies of the defenders in oil, stacked them like cordwood outside the mission, and set them ablaze. If the Alamo was a military defeat, it was a psychological victory.

The Mexican troops of Santa Anna suffered l,550 casualties--eight Mexican soldiers died for every defender. "Remember the Alamo" became the battle cry of the Texas War of Independence. Goliad Two weeks after the defeat at the Alamo, a group of Texas surrendered to Mexican forces outside of Goliad with the understanding that they would be treated as prisoners of war. But Santa Anna set aside the agreement. Instead, he ordered more than 350 Texans shot. San Jacinto The defeats gave Sam Houston time to raise and train an army. Volunteers from the American South flocked to his banner. On April 21, his army of less than 800 men surprised Santa Anna and his army as it camped out on the San Jacinto River, east of present-day Houston. The next day, the army led by Houston captured Santa Anna himself and forced him to sign a treaty granting Texas its independence--a treaty that was never ratified by the Mexican government because it was acquired under duress. For most Mexican settlers in Texas, defeat meant that they would be relegated to second-class social, political, and economic positions. The new Texas Constitution denied citizenship and property rights to those who failed to support the revolution.

All persons of Hispanic ancestry were considered in the "denial" category unless they could prove otherwise. Consequently, many Mexican landowners fled the region. Mexican Independence Day - September 16 Updated August 22, 2016. Mexico's Independence Day - September 16: Mexico celebrates its independence every September 16 with parades, festivals, feasts, parties and more. Mexican flags are everywhere and the main plaza in Mexico City is packed. But what’s the history behind the date of September 16? Prelude to Mexican Independence : Long before 1810, Mexicans had begun to chafe under Spanish rule . Spain kept a stranglehold on her colonies, only permitting them limited trade opportunities and generally appointing Spaniards (as opposed to native-born Creoles) to important colonial posts. To the north, the United States had won its independence decades before, and many Mexicans felt they could, too. In 1808, Creole patriots saw their chance when Napoleon invaded Spain and imprisoned Ferdinand VII. This allowed Mexican and South American rebels to set up their own governments and yet claim loyalty to the imprisoned Spanish King.

Conspiracies: In Mexico, the creoles decided the time had come for independence . continue reading below our video What Is Mexican Independence Day? It was a dangerous business, however. There might have been chaos in Spain, but the mother country still controlled the colonies. In 1809-1810 there were several conspiracies, most of which were found out and the conspirators harshly punished. In Querétaro, an organized conspiracy including several prominent citizens was preparing to make its move at the end of 1810. The leaders included parish priest Father Miguel Hidalgo , Royal army officer Ignacio Allende , government official Miguel Dominguez, cavalry captain Juan Aldama and others. The date of October 2 was selected for the insurrection against Spain to begin. El Grito de Dolores: In early September, however, the conspiracy began to unravel. The plot had been found out and one by one the conspirators were being rounded up by colonial officials. On September 15, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo heard the bad news: the jig was up and the Spanish were coming for him.

On the morning of the 16th, Hidalgo took to the pulpit in the town of Dolores and made a shocking announcement: he was taking up arms against the tyrannies of the Spanish government and his parishioners were all invited to join him. This famous speech became known as "El Grito de Dolores," Or the "Cry of Dolores." Within hours Hidalgo had an army: a large, unruly, poorly armed but resolute mob. March to Mexico City: Hidalgo, assisted by military man Ignacio Allende, led his army towards Mexico City. Along the way they laid siege to the town of Guanajuato and fought off the Spanish defense at the Battle of Monte de las Cruces . By November he was at the gates of the city itself, with angry army large enough to take it. Yet Hidalgo inexplicably retreated, perhaps turned aside by fears of a large Spanish army coming to reinforce the city. Fall of Hidalgo: In January of 1811, Hidalgo and Allende were routed at the Battle of Calderon Bridge by a much smaller but better-trained Spanish army.

Forced to flee, the rebel leaders, along with some others, were soon captured. Allende and Hidalgo were both put to death in June and July of 1811. The peasant army had disbanded and it looked as if Spain had reasserted control over its unruly colony. Mexican Independence is Won: But such was not the case. One of Hidalgo’s captains, José María Morelos, took up the banner of independence and fought until his own capture and execution in 1815. He was in turn succeeded by his own lieutenant, Vicente Guerrero and rebel leader Guadalupe Victoria, who fought for six more years until 1821, when they reached an agreement with turncoat royal officer Agustín de Iturbide which allowed for Mexico’s definitive liberation in September of 1821. Mexican Independence Celebrations : September 16 is one of Mexico's most important holidays. Every year, local mayors and politicians re-enact the famous Grito de Dolores.

In Mexico City, thousands congregate in the Zócalo, or main square, on the night of the 15th to hear the President ring the same bell that Hidalgo did and recite the Grito de Dolores. The crowd roars, cheers and chants, and fireworks light up the sky. On the 16th, every city and town all over Mexico celebrates with parades, dances and other civic festivals. Most Mexicans celebrate by hanging flags all over their home and spending time with family. A feast is usually involved. If the food can be made red, white and green (like the Mexican Flag) all the better! Mexicans that live abroad bring their celebrations with them. In US cities with large Mexican populations, such as Houston or Los Angeles, expatriate Mexicans will have parties and celebrations - you'll probably need a reservation to eat at any popular Mexican restaurant that day! Some people mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo , or May Fifth, is Mexico's independence day. That's not correct: Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates the unlikely Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Sources: Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays | EDSITEment Mexican Culture and History through Its National Holidays Tools A celebration of the Day of the Dead in Guanajuato, Mexico. Credit: Image courtesy of American Memory at the Library of Congress. Much can be learned about a nation by the events that appear on its calendar. National holidays provide insight into the values of a country while commemorating its history. Mexico today is the product of ancient Indian civilizations, European conquest, Catholic missionary efforts, two long and bloody revolutions, and many other wars. The encounter between European and indigenous, Catholic and pagan, and rich and poor has generated a unique culture in Mexico. This lesson will focus on holidays that represent and commemorate Mexico's religious traditions, culture, and politics over the past five hundred years. The holidays celebrated by Mexico today exemplify the synthesis of ancient Mexican religion and Catholicism, and commemorate the struggles of Mexico's different social classes and ethnic groups. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (Dia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe) is a Catholic celebration of the appearance of the Virgin Mary to an Indian man in the first years of Spanish rule.

The Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos) is a celebration that has developed out of a combination of indigenous and Catholic rituals for honoring the deceased. Mexico's Independence Day commemorates The Cry of Dolores (El Grito de Dolores), when Mexico's rural poor began a fight to overthrow the Spanish in 1810. Finally, Cinco de Mayo, a celebration that continually grows in popularity in the United States, commemorates a Mexican military victory over the French in 1862. Guiding Questions What do some of Mexico's major holidays tell us about the country's religious and political history? Learning Objectives Identify the ethnic and religious influences on Mexican culture. Understand the meaning and history of Dia de los Muertos, Dia de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Grito de Dolores, and Cinco de Mayo. Identify basic practices and traditions of Mexican religious and political holidays. Background After Hernando Cortes conquered the Aztec Empire in 1521, Catholic missionaries swept into the area to convert the indigenous peoples. European efforts at evangelism were not always effective, especially when missionaries attempted to introduce the Christian faith and religious practices without alteration or adaptation to indigenous customs.

However, the Aztecs did find elements of their own religion in some Catholic rituals. For example, the Aztecs were known (and feared by some other Indian communities) for their practice of human sacrifice. This ceremonial ritual of their religion made them receptive to the idea of consuming the flesh of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Furthermore, the Aztec worship of the goddess Tonantzin was transferred to the veneration of the Virgin Mary in the Catholic faith. Thus, a blending of Aztec customs and Catholic beliefs resulted in a distinctive Mexican religious culture. Within the first decade of Spanish rule, hundreds of thousands of native Mexicans converted to Catholicism. To learn more about Cortes' conquest of Mexico see the EDSITEment-reviewed Conquistadors . El Dia de los Muertos A common example of the fusion of Aztec and Catholic practices is evident throughout Mexico every autumn during the celebration of El Dia de los Muertos. Observed during the Catholic feasts of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day—November 1 and 2—this traditional Mexican holiday celebrates the two-day return of deceased relatives to their loved ones remaining on Earth. Honoring the dead is a 4,000 year old tradition in Mexico.

Since Catholicism has become the dominant religion in Mexico, the festivities surrounding El Dia de los Muertos have absorbed certain Christian practices including the praying of the rosary. However, the observance of this tradition is more celebratory than somber. Death is something to be feared in Mexican culture, but Mexicans receive its threat with humor. Although a typical part of the celebration involves a candlelight vigil and La Llorada ('the weeping"), El Dia de los Muertos is an opportunity to laugh at death. This mockery is evident in the amusing skeletons and specialty foods that adorn the altars to the dead. These altars are erected by family members in cemeteries and can be elaborate or simple. Our Lady of Guadalupe The Catholic Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe has its origins in December of 1531. A recently converted Indian, Juan Diego, was traveling over Tepeyac Hill—the former site of an Aztec shrine to the goddess Tonantzin—outside of Mexico City.

When Juan Diego reported to the local bishop that he had seen the mother of the Christian God on Tepeyac Hill and she addressed him in his native language and asked that a shrine be built for her at the site, Church officials were skeptical. Bishop Zumarraga asked the elderly Aztec to bring a sign of the apparition. Three days later, Juan Diego returned to the bishop and released a bundle of roses from his cloak, on which a colorful image of the Virgin Mary appeared. Stunned by the image and the abundance of roses in the middle of December, the bishop ordered that a shrine be erected. Subsequent bishops embellished the shrine and in 1904 it was given the status of a basilica. Today, Juan Diego's cloak is displayed above the altar in the Basilica of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Although other Marian apparitions have been reported throughout the centuries, the Catholic Church has not recognized the validity of every reported sighting. However, numerous popes have supported the authenticity of the appearance of the Lady of Guadalupe. In 1859 her feast day, December 12, became a Mexican national holiday.

For a detailed chronology of Catholicism in Mexico, visit Our Lady of Guadalupe , accessible through the EDSITEment-reviewed Latin American Network Information Center. Almost three centuries after Juan Diego's experience on Tepeyac Hill, a makeshift army of Mexican peasants carried an image of the Lady of Guadalupe as they prepared to fight Spanish authorities for Mexico's independence. El Grito de Dolores The celebration of Mexican independence is September 16, the anniversary of El Grito de Dolores. In 1810, two years after Napoleon conquered Spain and placed his brother Joseph on the throne, a Catholic priest in the small central Mexican town of Dolores called together his parishioners and rallied them to overthrow the Spanish. The speech of Father Miguel Hidalgo became known as "El Grito de Dolores" (The Cry of Dolores). The Indian peasants of Father Hidalgo's parish were not the only Mexicans discontent with Spanish rule. The Creoles, Spaniards born in Mexico, were not afforded the same opportunities available to the Peninsulares, Spaniards born in Spain.

Thus, Indians were organizing to overthrow oppressive landowners in central Mexico just as the Creoles were planning to overthrow the Peninsulares who were pledging allegiance to the newly imposed French king. The next decade became a bloodbath of class struggle. Father Hidalgo, and subsequently his successor Father Jose Maria Morelos, were captured and executed by loyalist forces. In 1821, however, conservatives aligned with the Indian uprising and Mexico's independence was won. In 1823, Mexico became a republic. Although multiple factions within Mexican society had fought for over ten years, the call for action by Father Hidalgo in 1810 is recognized as Mexico's Independence Day. But Mexico's war for independence would not be the last time the country would battle Europeans on its own soil. For further background on the fight for Mexican independence see the background history on the EDSITEment-reviewed website for the award-winning documentary, U.S.-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo In 1861 a three year civil war ended with a victory for Mexico's liberals and the election of Benito Juarez as president. Conservatives, resistant to the reforms of Juarez's government, called on Europe for help.

While England and Spain saw an opportunity to demand repayment of debts incurred during the Mexican-American War, which had ended in 1848, France planned to use the turmoil in Mexico as a chance to expand their empire. As Napoleon III sent an army to Mexico, England and Spain abandoned their financial demands. In May of 1862, the French invasion force met the Mexican army at the town of Puebla in central Mexico. After four hours of fighting the Mexicans emerged victorious. The Battle of Puebla proved to be more of a morale boost than anything else, as the French went on to seize the entire country and install the Austrian nobleman Maximilian von Hapsburg as emperor. Juarez's forces continued the struggle against French occupation, and in 1867 Napoleon III gave up and called his army home. Juarez had Emperor Maximilian executed. The anniversary of Mexico's defeat of a formidable French force on May 5, 1862 became a yearly commemoration of heroism, celebrated most fervently in the region of Puebla. Information on Mexico's history and the lives of important historical figures can be accessed through the EDSITEment-reviewed site from the National History Museum in Mexico City.

Preparation Instructions Review the lesson plan and the websites used throughout. Locate and bookmark suggested materials and websites. Download and print out documents you will use and duplicate copies as necessary for student viewing. Students can access the primary source materials and some of the activity materials via the EDSITEment LaunchPad . Lesson Activities Photo Strip 82 - Altars and Figures, Day of the Dead, Veracruz, Mexico After reviewing the above sites and others on MexicoConnect, ask the students to design a mock altar of their own using some of the images and ideas they have collected from the MexicoConnect web pages. For this activity you may want to divide the students into groups and have each group design decorations of flowers, skeletons, or skulls; compose a poem; find recipes for candy or pastry treats; or suggest other appropriate activities based on their study of the websites. When students have finished designing their altars and planning their celebrations, ask each group to discuss the significance of their offerings and decorations. What significance do these decorations have for the dead and the living? How is death perceived in this tradition? What is the tradition celebrating? Assessment Dia De Los Muertos and Halloween Have the students either write a brief essay or make a chart comparing the two holidays.

Ask them to begin by brain storming ways in which Halloween is celebrated in the U.S. Is Halloween a holiday connected with honoring the dead? Next compare what they have learned about the traditions associated with El Dia de los Muertos to the traditions associated with Halloween. El Grito de Dolores vs. the Fourth of July Do the same assignment for El Grito de Dolores and the Fourth of July: either a brief essay or a chart comparing the two holidays. Ask students to begin by listing all the Fourth of July activities they can think of. Then tell them to compare what they have learned about Mexican celebrations of Independence Day. Ask them to consider both the similarities and the differences they discover between the two holidays. Extending The Lesson Exploring language is a valuable way to add to the understanding of cultural traditions. Several of the websites in this lesson introduce some colorful Spanish words and expressions associated with these holidays, especially El Dia de los Muertos. Ask students to make a list of all the Spanish words and their English definitions and equivalents they can find related to these holidays. You can help them get started by showing them the Day of the Dead Glossary on the AZCentral.com website, accessible from the Day of the Dead website on MexicoConnect.

This is also an excellent way to engage students who are bilingual or who may be studying Spanish. Selected EDSITEment Websites

Question: The Cry of Dolores is regarded as the first event in the fight for independence in the history of what country?
Answer: Mexico