ther Hidalgofears: 1753-1811Country: MexicoColonial Power Fought: SpainCantember 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town ofo ico delivered a speech known as the Grito de Dolores ("Cry of/from Dolores") at his church. The eventDolores he start of the Mexican War of Independence (1810-1822) and the Grito de Delores became the battle cry ofthe Mexican War of Independence."My Children, a new dispensation [system of government] comes to ustoday...Will you free yourselves? Will you recover the lands stolen 300 yearsago from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards? We must act at once."Father Hidalgo, Sept 16, 1810Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla who led the Mexican independence movement against Spanish rule in 1810 was a partof one of these rebel groups. Born in May 1753 in Guanajuato, Hidalgo entered the priesthood in 1779. For the nextquarter of a century, he performed his duties as a spiritual shepherd, but also read texts on political theory including theworks of Enlightenment Thinkers. Hidalgo's underground independence group read books and discussed emerging ideason nationalism and political liberty.When authorities moved to arrest him, he gathered together his followers and his parishioners and issued the"Grito de Dolores" on September 16, 1810. He quickly gathered an insurgent army that rampaged through centralMexico. His army, made up of almost 90,000 poor farmers and civilians was defeated by well trained Spanish troops andHidalgo was taken prisoner by the Spanish and executed, but others continued the fight for Mexican Independence.Inspired by Hidalgo and other revolutionaries like José María Morelos and Vicente Guerrero, and the ideals ofthe Enlightenment and French Revolution, upper class Creoles who once supported Spain, started to support MexicanIndependence. In 1821, an alliance of the Creole upper class, rebel leaders, and the clergy came together led by thegeneral Agustín de Iturbide to drive the Spanish out of Mexico and declared independence on September 27, 1821.More8. What impact did the French Revolution have on events in Mexico that led to the Mexican War for Independence?9. How might reading political texts have influenced Hidalgo's future role as a revolutionary leader?10. Based on this excerpt, what finally made the Mexican War for Independence successful?

The Mexican War of Independence was a fight organized by the people to gain freedom from Spain.

8. What impact did the French Revolution have on events in Mexico that led to the Mexican War for Independence? 9. How might reading political texts have influenced Hidalgo's future role as a revolutionary leader? 10. Based on this excerpt, what finally made the Mexican War for Independence successful?

8. What impact did the French Revolution have on events in Mexico that led to the Mexican War for Independence? 9. How might reading political texts have influenced Hidalgo's future role as a revolutionary leader? 10. Based on this excerpt, what finally made the Mexican War for Independence successful?