1. El Día de La Independencia Mexicana
Mexico’s Independence Day

2. La Historia de México Aztec and Mayan Empires

3. La Historia de México The Conquest of Tenochtitlan November 8th, 1519
When the Spaniards, allied with Tlaxcaltex warriors, massacred several Aztec chiefs and a revolt against the Spaniards began.
Hernán Cortés and Montezuma II

4. La Historia de México
For 3 months, Cortés and his allies fought the Aztec army and eventually captured Tenochtitalan.
This marked the fall of the Aztec empire and a vast Mexican empire fell under Spanish rule.
Land occupied as New Spain

5. Historia de El Día de La Independencia Mexicana
In the early 19th century, a lot of people in México were talking about revolting against Spain.
During this time period, an established class system was very much in effect in México.
Spaniards (born in Spain)= Ruling class
Los Criollos (born in México but with pure Spanish blood)= Were not given as many rights and responsibilites as those from Spain.
Los Mestizos (born of mixed blood between indigenous and Spanish peoples)= Did not have as many rights
Indigenous people were more neglected and sat at the bottom of the class system

6. Historia de El Día de La Independencia Mexicana
Father Miguel Hidalgo, a Mexican priest in the town of Dolores, and others planned a revolt for Fall of 1810.
The start of the revolution for independence officially began when Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells and gave what is known as “El Grito de Dolores” on September 15, 1810
His battle cry of “¡Viva México!” and “¡Viva la Independencia!” began an 11 year quest for independence against Spain, which was eventually won in 1821
As citizen soldiers, the people used clubs, knives, stone slings, and ancient guns as they fought toward Mexico City.
The Spanish solders and Hidalgo’s rebels eventually clashed in Guanajuato, where a high amount of Spaniards were killed.
Ultimately, Father Hidalgo was captured and executed, but his followers continued to fight .

7. El Día de La Independencia Mexicana
September 15th & 16th= Biggest national holidays in México
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is often thought of as México’s Independence day, but that is further from the facts.
Cinco de Mayo does not have any connections to México’s Independence Day

8. El Día de La Independencia Mexicana
Celebrations include
“El Grito de Dolores”
Every September 15th, in the evening, the President of México shouts “El Grito” from the balcony of the national palace in Mexico City with a large crowd gathering in the zócalo (like a town square) shouting back “¡Viva!”
This also takes place in each state with the Grito being shouted by the governor.
“El Desfile Militar”
On the morning of September 16th, the zócalo is again filled as Mexicans come to watch the parade which features the Mexican military

9. La Bandera
The stripes on Mexico’s flag are believed to represent the following:
Green= hope
White= religion
Red= independence and the unity of the nation
The current Mexican flag was adopted on September 16, 1968
The national coat of arms is featured in the middle

10. El Escudo
Mexico’s coat of arms depicts an ancient Aztec legend that tells a tale of God telling a band of wandering Aztec Indians that when they came across an eagle eating a snake while while perched on a nopal cactus growing out of a rock surrounded by water, they were to create their home.
This spot eventually became Mexico City.

11. Mexico’s National Anthem