A Brief Overview A Brief Overview of Mexican of Mexican

Independence Independence DayDay

If you thought May 5If you thought May 5thth was Mexican was Mexican Independence Day, you are Independence Day, you are Mistaken!Mistaken!

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 and hamlet in the agricultural, mining and manufacturing region northwest of manufacturing region northwest of Mexico City.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 (1800) and was suffering the century (1800) and was suffering the strains of unemployment, and poverty. strains of unemployment, and poverty.

The Encomienda system was still The Encomienda system was still officially in placeofficially in place

(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 Father Miguel Hidalgo was a

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

On September 16On September 16th, 1810 th, 1810 Father Father Hidalgo rang the bells of his Hidalgo rang the bells of his church, calling on the gathered church, calling on the gathered masses to join him in a revolt 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”

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 captured The retreating Father Hidalgo was captured by royal troops, defrocked (his right to act as by royal troops, defrocked (his right to act as a priest) and executed in 1811.a priest) and 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.

5 de Mayo5 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 In the United States this day has become an important one for the recognition of an important one for the recognition of Mexican culture, but its historical Mexican culture, but its historical significance has been lost.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)

America’s perception of May 5

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

this.this.Mexico’s perception of May 5