A Brief Overview A Brief Overview of Mexican of Mexican

Independence Independence DayDay

Cinco De Mayo….right?Cinco De Mayo….right?

If you thought May 5If you thought May 5thth was Mexican was Mexican Independence Day, read on!Independence Day, read on!

September 16September 16thth and 5 de and 5 de MayoMayo

Mexican Independence Day is Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16celebrated on September 16thth, not , not May 5May 5thth..

Mexican Independence Day Mexican Independence Day commemorates the “commemorates the “Grito de Grito de DoloresDolores” or “Cry of Dolores” of ” or “Cry of Dolores” of September 16September 16thth, 1810., 1810.

El Grito de DoloresEl Grito de Dolores

Dolores was (and still is) a small Dolores was (and still is) a small hamlet in the agricultural, mining hamlet in the agricultural, mining and manufacturing region northwest and manufacturing region northwest of Mexico City.of Mexico City.

The region’s population had been The region’s population had been growing around the turn of the growing around the turn of the century and was suffering the century and was suffering the strains of unemployment, and strains of unemployment, and poverty. poverty.

(Dolores, cont.)(Dolores, cont.)

Economic difficulties were Economic difficulties were compounded by a series of droughts compounded by a series of droughts that created unrest among the that created unrest among the region’s large peasant population.region’s large peasant population.

Father Miguel HidalgoFather Miguel Hidalgo

Father Miguel Hidalgo was a parish Father Miguel Hidalgo was a parish priest in Dolores who, moved by the priest in Dolores who, moved by the suffering of his parishioners and his suffering of his parishioners and his own political views, sparked the own political views, sparked the brewing rebellion.brewing rebellion.

On September 16On September 16th,th, Father Hidalgo rang Father Hidalgo rang the bells of his church, calling on the the bells of his church, calling on the gathered masses to join him in a revolt gathered masses to join him in a revolt against the Spanish colonial against the Spanish colonial government.government.

““El Grito de Dolores”El Grito de Dolores”

Father Miguel HidalgoFather Miguel Hidalgo

One of the bells today.One of the bells today.

GuanajuatoGuanajuato

Hidalgo led his followers to the large Hidalgo led his followers to the large mining city of Guanajuato where they mining city of Guanajuato where they killed the local governor, sacked the killed the local governor, sacked the city and raided its food warehouses.city and raided its food warehouses.

However, two thousand insurgents However, two thousand insurgents were killed in the battle for the city were killed in the battle for the city (only 300 defenders were killed) and (only 300 defenders were killed) and Father Hidalgo realized that his revolt Father Hidalgo realized that his revolt was disintegrating into mob violence.was disintegrating into mob violence.

The Revolt Breaks DownThe Revolt Breaks Down

After Guanajuato, Hidalgo and his After Guanajuato, Hidalgo and his followers marched to the outskirts of followers marched to the outskirts of Mexico City, which they could have Mexico City, which they could have taken.taken.

However, Father Hidalgo did not However, Father Hidalgo did not want to see a repeat of the want to see a repeat of the bloodshed in Guanajuato and bloodshed in Guanajuato and retreated.retreated.

The end of the revolt.The end of the revolt.

The retreating Father Hidalgo was The retreating Father Hidalgo was captured by royal troops, defrocked and captured by royal troops, defrocked and executed in 1811.executed in 1811.

Mexico did not actually achieve its Mexico did not actually achieve its independence for another 10 years, but independence for another 10 years, but Father Hidalgo’s actions were an important Father Hidalgo’s actions were an important first step to ending Spanish rule in Mexico.first step to ending Spanish rule in Mexico.

To this day the To this day the Grito de DoloresGrito de Dolores inspires inspires Mexican national pride and campaigns for Mexican national pride and campaigns for social justice.social justice.

Epilogue: 5 de MayoEpilogue: 5 de Mayo

5 de Mayo on the other hand 5 de Mayo on the other hand celebrates the Mexican victory over celebrates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.May 5, 1862.

The French under Napoleon III had The French under Napoleon III had taken Mexico, in an attempt to make taken Mexico, in an attempt to make Mexico a French colony now that the Mexico a French colony now that the Spanish had been driven out.Spanish had been driven out.

The Battle of Puebla was the beginning The Battle of Puebla was the beginning of the end for the French in Mexico.of the end for the French in Mexico.

PueblaPuebla

5 de Mayo (cont.)5 de Mayo (cont.)

This was an important day in Mexican This was an important day in Mexican history, but the holiday remains largely a history, but the holiday remains largely a regional celebration.regional celebration.

In the United States this day has become an In the United States this day has become an important one for the recognition of Mexican important one for the recognition of Mexican culture (and for some, drinking Corona Beer) culture (and for some, drinking Corona Beer) but its historical significance has been lost.but its historical significance has been lost.

To prove my point, when I did an internet To prove my point, when I did an internet search of “5 de Mayo” I came up with this search of “5 de Mayo” I came up with this image. (Next slide)image. (Next slide)

But when I searched for But when I searched for “Battle of Puebla,” I found “Battle of Puebla,” I found

this.this.