Mexican Independence Day

On the morning of September 16th, the rebels marched to Guanajuato to engage in a battle with the Spanish Army.  The revolt was at first a success, however, the rebel army later failed to defeat the the Spanish Army in Mexico City.  As the Spanish Army chased the rebels, they were captured attempting to flee to The United States.  This uprising marked the beginning of the fight for independence by the people of Mexico.

With his capture by the Spanish Army, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla was tried for treason, found guilty, and  executed on July 30, 1811.  After his death, the leadership of the revolutionary army was assumed by Jose Maria Morelos.  Morelos fought the Spanish four more years including the Siege of Cuautla.  In 1815, Jose Maria Morelos was captured and executed for treason on December 22nd.

From 1815 to 1821, the fighting was done by small guerilla bands.  Two leaders of these guerilla bands included Guadalupe Victoria (whose real name was Manuel Félix Fernández) from Puebla and Vicente Guerrero from Oaxaca.

After ten years of civil war and the death of two of the rebel leaders, the independence movement had almost failed.  It was the Liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812 signed by King Ferdinand of Spain that slowly brought the people of Mexico together to form a new empire.  On September 27, 1821, the Spanish government signed the Treaty of Cordoba and the Mexican Empire was formed.

The Mexican Independence Day celebration begins at 11:00 p.m. on September 15th with the ringing of the bells in every city in Mexico and continues into the day of September 16th.  Mexican Independence Day is similar to the Fourth of July in the United States.

1. The first leader of the rebel army was

Jose Maria Morelos.

Vicente Guerrero.

Father Hidalgo.

All of the above.

2. Father Hidalgo is famous for shouting

Viva la France.

Viva Mexico.

Viva Espana

None of the above.

3. The Mexican Independence Day begins at p.m. on September 15th.

4. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Jose Maria Morelos were both tried
 for .

5. The Liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812 signed by King Ferdinand of Spain

started the revolution.

slowly brought the people of Mexico together.

ended the war.

All of the above.

6. For nearly six years, the revolution was fought by small bands.

7. Manuel Félix Fernández was from the city of .

8. Mexican Independence Day is similar to the Fourth of July in the United States.

True

False

9. Guerilla bands are animals that live in the rain forests.

True

False

10. The Treaty of Cordoba was signed on September 27, and the Mexican Empire was formed.