Mexican History

Mexico’s independence movement was an important, if not the most important stepping stone of history in Mexico. On September16, 1810, Mexico called for its independence from Spain with the leadership of a progressive priest, and creole, Miguel Hidalgo. The Creoles and mulattos played an important role in Mexico’s independence movement, and that is what I am here to talk about.

Before the 18th century came to an end, the Creoles, which were the people of New Spain, began a rebellion against their own government. In Spanish colonial America, Creoles were generally excluded from high office in the church and state even though they were equally legal to the Spaniards. The Creoles were never taken into consideration for positions such as colonial posts and commercial activities. Creoles despised the Spanish control, the monopolies, and the government. They also railed against the political and economic reforms that were introduced by Spain to improve the colony. In Schaefer’s article, he writes, “In colonial Mexico, because Indians had been excluded from military service, milicianos had to be raised in the handful of towns that contained seizable mestizo or creole populations.” This shows how these groups of people were underappreciated.

On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the priest and Creole in the village of Dolores, Guanajuato, ordered the arrest of the Spaniards who lived in Dolores, Guanajuato. After he ordered the arrest, he rang the church bell, which was used called the pueblo people to mass. Once the people of the town were present, Hidalgo shouted hi call to go to war with Spain. That famous cry, known as "El Grito," is done all over present-day Mexico on the night of the 15th of September. Mexicans celebrate the independence on two consecutive days, the 15th and 16th of September.

The independence movement started when Napoleon III named his brother, Joseph Bonaparte King of Spain. Guided by a group