Mexican Independence

Mexican Independence By Mr. Chardon

Stage 1 - Before Independence • Mexico was ruled by the Spanish. Below them were the criollos, Spanish people born in Mexico. Below both of them were Blacks, Indigenous people and mestizos. They did not have much power and were treated badly.

Stage 2 - Planning • The criollos wanted to get rid of the Spanish in control. A priest named Miguel Hidalgo worked with the Blacks, Indigenous people, and mestizos and joined forces with the criollos against the Spanish. When the Spanish found out that the criollos were planning an attack, they came to arrest Hidalgo.

Stage 3 - Grito De Delores - War • Hidalgo know that he was going to be arrested, and decided to start the fight against the Spanish for independence. He led an army of mestizos from the city of Delores to Mexico City. It was the morning of September 16th in 1810 that he made the famous “Grito De Delores” speech to start the fight against the Spanish. He gained 100,000 followers. However, in 1811, the Spanish captured Hidalgo, and he was killed.

Stage 4 - Mexican Independence •

Other leaders stepped up to fight for Mexican Independence, especially in Southern Mexico. Jose Maria Morelos too over leadership of the fight. Vicente Guerrero, who was half Indigenous and half Black, became the first president of Mexico. Mexico used the “Plan de Iguala.” This plan said that Mexico should have a common religion, there should be no more upper class and lower class, and that all African slaves should be free. They were one of the first places to free slaves. This is when they started using the flag that they have today.