16 de septiembre El da de la Independencia

16 de septiembre El día de la Independencia

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla

• Known as “el padre de la patria” (the father of the country) • Criollo priest • 60 years old • Depicted on several murals throughout Mexico

Social Caste System • Los gachupines Born in Spain; Parents of full blooded Spaniards § Los criollos Born in Mexico; Parents are full blooded Spaniards §Los mestizos Born in Mexico. Parents are from Spain and Mexico. §Los indios The indigenous people of Mexico. Parents are from one of the several indian groups that settled in Mexico.

Hidalgo fought for the rights of the mestizos and indios

El Grito de Dolores • Hidalgo and others met secretly in the small town of Dolores (near Guanajuato) to plan the Independence movement • A criollo soldier revealed their meeting place • Hidalgo rang the church bell on the evening of September 15, 1810, to signal the beginning of the Independence movement §His famous “Grito de Dolores” is: “Viva la Vírgen de Guadalupe!” “Abajo (down with) el gobierno español!”

El Grito in Mexico City • Today Mexican citizens gather from all over in the zócalo (main plaza of Mexico City) to hear the president recite the grito de Dolores. • The president acknowledges the heroes of the Independence Movement “Hidalgo” “Allende” “Morelos” “Guerrero”, etc. • He then rings the bell and shouts “VIVA MEXICO” and the crowd responds back with the same grito and fireworks ensume.

El fin de la guerra • The fight for Independence lasted for 11 years. • The war ended in 1821 with the creation of Mexico’s first constitution and flag

El primer emperador de México • Agustín de Iturbide was crowned the first emperor of Mexico in May 1822

The Mexican Flag • Adopted in 1821

The Colors of the Flag • Verde = Independence and Hope • BLANCO = religion and purity • ROJO = Unity and Blood

The emblem The eagle sitting on a cactus devouring a snake represents the Aztec heritage (from a legend)

• Huitzilopochtli was the God of the Aztecs • He indicated to the Aztecs where they were supposed to settle

The Aztec Legend • Huitzilopochtli told the Aztecs to travel until they found an eagle perched on a cactus devouring a snake. When they found this, they were to settle there. • That place was called Tenochtitlan. Today it is known as Mexico City.

The word “Mexico” comes form the Aztec word “Mexitli” which is another name for Huitzilopochtli (the Aztec God)