1. El día de la Independencia
16 de septiembre
El día de la Independencia

2. Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla

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

4. 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.

5. Hidalgo fought for the rights of the mestizos and indios

6. 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!”

7. 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.

8. 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

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

10. The Mexican Flag
Adopted in 1821

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

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

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

14. 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.

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