Every year, 16 September Mexico celebrates its main national holiday — Independence Day. On this day in 1810, a popular uprising began in the country, which grew into the War of Independence of Mexico from Spain. Mexico finally gained independence only in September 1821.
In 1517, Spanish conquerors arrived in the territory of modern Mexico, and by the end of the 16th century, the former Aztec empire was incorporated into Spain as a colony. For 300 years, the indigenous population of Mexico was subjected to brutal exploitation and destruction.
The anti-colonial war in Mexico, which unfolded after the occupation of Spain by Napoleon's troops, developed under the influence of the Great French Revolution and the War of Independence in the United States. But the liberation movement in Mexico did not originate among the capital's Creoles — whites of American origin, and mining areas. The uprising for independence, which began in the town of Dolores on September 16, 1810, was led by the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (1753-1811).
Hidalgo y Costilla graduated from the theological seminary in Valladolid, where he later was a teacher and then rector. Demoted to parish priest for disseminating the ideas of the French encyclopedists, he continued to advocate for the independence of the state and the improvement of the economic and legal status of the Indian population. On the night of September 16, a group of patriarchs gathered near the priest’s house in the town of Dolores. These were his relatives and friends, workers of local factories and local residents — only about three dozen people. At the head of this small group, Hidalgo went to the prison and freed the prisoners, who immediately joined the ranks. The rebels moved to the barracks, where they seized weapons. They arrested colonial officials and other representatives of the Spanish elite. At 5 o’clock in the morning, Hidalgo ordered the bell to be struck and from the church porch addressed the crowd with an inspired call of “Independence and death to the Spaniards!”, which went down in history under the name “The Cry of Dolores.”
His call was responded to by a number of people, residents of Dolores and nearby villages, and in addition several dozen soldiers. On the same day, Hidalgo led his column to Mexico City. Along the way, she was joined by peasants, miners and the poor. The rebels were armed only with pikes, machetes, clubs, slings and bows. Only a few had firearms.
In a short period of time, the uprising covered vast territories. By order of Viceroy Francisco Javier Venegas, military units from other cities were gathered in Mexico City, the garrisons of San Luis Potosi and Guadalajara were brought into full combat readiness. On September 27, the Viceroy placed monetary rewards on the heads of Hidalgo and his associates.
PonyMay that the balance of forces was not in favor of the rebels, Hidalgo seemed from trying to take Mexico City. At the end of November in Guadalajara, Hidalgo issued a decree by which he proclaimed the end of slavery for the first time on the American continent. The rebels had their own printed organ — weekly newspaper El Despertador Americano, published in Guadalajara in December 1810 — January 1811 with a circulation of two thousand copies.
One of the most striking documents to come from Hidalgo’s pen was the manifesto published in early December 1810. It expressed the desire to unite all classes and segments of the population of the state in the struggle for independence.
At the beginning of 1811, the colonial authorities decided to intensify military operations against the patriarchal forces, whose headquarters at that time was Guadalajara. Under pressure from the enemy, Hidalgo's army had to retreat, and on January 21 the royalists entered Guadalajara. The greatly thinned rebel ranks advanced north, pursued by royalist troops. On March 21, as a result of treason, Hidalgo and his associates were captured. The military court sentenced Hidalgo to death; the same fate befell other leaders, as well as many ordinary participants in the uprising. Hidalgo was defrocked, and on July 30 he was shot.
To summarize, the uprising was only the beginning of the armed struggle of the Mexican people for independence, which was continued after the death of Hidalgo by other freedom fighters.
Until 1820, the struggle for independence continued at the level of partisan actions. But in 1820, after the victory of the revolution in Spain, the Creole elite decided to take the side of the independence fighters. At the beginning of 1821, the army joined forces with the rebels and reached Mexico City practically without resistance. The capital was occupied on September 27, and on September 28, 1821, Mexico was declared independent.
Since the middle of the 19th century, on the night of September 16 in the capital of Mexico City, on the Constitution Square, which according to a long tradition is called the Zocalo, the President of Mexico rings the «freedom bell» and addresses crowds of people from the balcony of the National Palace. The ringing of the bell is replaced by exclamations: “Viva, Mexico!” Viva, freedom!», «Let the heroes who died for their Motherland be glorified!». These slogans are as traditional as the celebration itself. These slogans have not changed since the night of September 16, 1810, when priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the bell of the chapel in the town of Dolores.
Every night from 15 to 16 September, performances depicting the history of the battle of the Mexican people for national independence are staged in all the most important city squares of Mexico. The Mexican flag flaunts on all city buildings, poles and cars on this day. On this day, many Mexicans dressed in national costumes gather in the central square of Mexico City.
On the streets there will be orchestras, clowns, organ grinders, sellers of sweets, drinks, whistles and horns. At the end of the holiday, multi-colored lights of the festive fireworks fly into the sky.