Mexico's Independence: The 1810 Cry That Started It All

Mexico celebrates Independence Day on September 16, commemorating Father Miguel Hidalgo's 1810 Grito de Dolores—the call to arms against Spanish rule.

Key Distinction

1810 = Start of war (Hidalgo's revolt)
1821 = Actual independence achieved (Treaty of Córdoba, Iturbide)

The 11-Year Struggle

• 1810: Hidalgo & Morelos lead popular uprising
• 1815–1820: Guerrilla phase, Spanish reconquest
• 1821: Iturbide's Army of Three Guarantees enters Mexico City
• Sept 27, 1821: Formal independence declared

Why Sept 16, Not Sept 27?

Hidalgo's Grito symbolizes the people's rebellion. Iturbide's victory was elite-driven. The 16th honors the spark, not the settlement.