“THE SCREAM OF DOLORES FOR THE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE”

                      A Mural by Mexican artist David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896-1974)

                     

                    (EL GRITO DE DOLORES de Septiembre 16, 1810)

By Elizabeth H. Elys
In early 19th century Napoleons occupation of Spain led to outbreak of revolt all across Spanish America.

On September 16, 1810, Miguel HIDALGOY y COSTILLA, a catholic priest, launched the Mexican War of Independence with the issuing of his GRITO DE DOLORES or cry of Dolores.

Going back to history, Mexico has a very rich cultural background. Hundreds of years ago, the Indian of Mexico built large cities, developed a calendar, invented a counting system and used a form of writing.

The word" Mexico" is derived from MEXICA, the name for the indigenous group that settled in central Mexico in early 14th century and is best known as the AZTECS.( AZTECAS).

When the different Indian civilizations prospered, they constructed impressive urban centers and religious building and produced sophisticated graphic art such as pottery and frescos. Pre- Columbian art has acquired a prominent place in the canon of the national culture and is displayed in numerous museums, especially the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Mexico has a long tradition especially in visual art, the painters Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orozco and David Siqueiros were the main propagators of Mexican Muralism. Their grand murals, often displayed on public buildings, promoted social ideals, incorporated political, historic and folk themes in their works.

For the 300 years, since 1521, Mexico was a Spanish colony. The Spaniards took Mexico’s riches, but they also introduced many changes in farming, government, industry and religion. The descendants of Spaniards became Mexico’s ruling class. The Indians remained poor and uneducated. During the Spanish colonial period, a third group of people developed in Mexico. These people, who had both Indian and white ancestors, became known as Meztizos.

The War for Independence in Mexico is sometimes considered a revolutionary war. The war independence was fought to end colonial rule. The war was based on politics and a separation of powers. This struggle for liberty was caused by three internal factors, the social oppression before the War of Independence, events such as the Grito de Dolores, and the Plan of Iguaia. These three factors become crucial for the War of Independence, which becomes a key period for the history of Mexico.

Mexican Independence Day really begins on the night of September 15th, at the traditional GRITO. (Shout or Cry). It commemorates the manner in which Miguel HIDALGO, considered the father of Mexico, publicly initiated, what became the Mexican independence movement in 1810.

This was in town of Dolores, now renamed Hidalgo, in central Mexico. Hidalgo, a priest, gathered the people in front of the church on the plaza, where he gave a speech and rang the bell, and called the people to action. Later he was captured and shot in 1811. The most famous leader of the next phase of the movement was Jose MORELOS, another priest, who had been a student of Hidalgo.

It was during the Morelos phase that an independent Mexico became the concrete public goal of insurgency. Morelos was captured and executed in 1815. By this time Napoleon had been driven out of Spain and the Spaniards tried keep empire. But the damage had been done and Spaniards were soon to lose all their mainland possessions.

After Morelos death, Mexican Guerrilla movement led by V. GUEERRERO, Guadalupe Victoria and others continued to resist Spanish government. In 1820, a new government took power in Spain. The Mexican Royalists, who had been loyal to Spain all these years, decided that they would rather rule an independent Mexico. So they sent General Agustin de ITURBIDE to make a path with the guerrilla leader Guerrero, who agreed to it.

In August of 1821, the Spanish viceroy in Mexico recognized the Independence of Mexico and signed the TREATY of CORDOBA.

On September 27th, 1821, Iturbide army entered Mexico City and on the 28th September an Independent MEXICO was officially declared.