User talk:Rmcbrid6/sandbox

Original Article: In 1910, as part of the celebrations marking the centennial of the Hidalgo revolt of 1810, President Porfirio Díaz inaugurated the monument to Mexico's political separation from Spain, the Angel of Independence on Avenida Reforma. The creation of this architectural monument is part of the long process of the construction of historical memory of Mexican independence.

Although Mexico gained its independence in September 1821, the marking of this historical event did not take hold immediately. The choice of date to celebrate was problematic, because Iturbide, who achieved independence from Spain, was rapidly created emperor of Mexico. His short-lived reign from 1821–22, ended when he was forced to abdicate by the military. This was a rocky start for the new nation, which made celebrating independence on the anniversary of Iturbide's Army of the Three Guarantees marching into Mexico City in triumph a less than perfect day for those who had opposed him. Celebrations of independence during his reign were marked on September 27. Following his ouster, there were calls to commemorate Mexican independence along the lines that the United States celebrated in grand style its Independence Day on July 4. The creation of a committee of powerful men to mark independence celebrations, the Junta Patriótica, organized celebrations of both September 16, to commemorate Hidalgo's grito and the start of the independence insurgency, and September 27, to celebrate actual political independence.[22]

During the Díaz regime (1876–1911), the president's birthday coincided with the September 15/16 celebration of independence. The largest celebrations took place and continue to do so in the capital's main square, the zócalo, with the peeling of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City's bells. In the 1880s, government officials attempted to move the bell that Hidalgo rang in 1810 to gather parishioners in Dolores for what became his famous "grito". Initially the pueblo's officials said the bell no longer existed, but in 1896, the bell, known as the Bell of San José, was taken to the capital. It was renamed the "Bell of Independence" and ritually rung by Díaz. It is now an integral part of Independence Day festivities.

My Edit: Porfiro Diaz, one of Mexico’s most well-known Presidents, decided in 1910 that the centennial celebration of Hidalgo’s reading of his Grito de Dolores and the ensuing revolt that it caused should be one to remember. He had the Angel of Independence constructed and placed on Mexico City’s most well-known street: Avenida Reforma. La Avenida Reforma celebrates various independence milestones for Mexico and is a hub for civilian life in present day Mexico. It is important that this celebration of Hidalgo is not a celebration of independence day, rather it is a celebration of the long process of independence and the struggle and sacrifice of those people who participated. The biggest disconnect exists between how people view the revolution and how the revolution actually took place and what events actually occurred. The revolution becomes the single most important focal point of the Mexican government and her presidents for the following 70 years after the new constitution is drafted. The government paints a very idealistic image of the revolt and how it was the “little guy” who stormed the palace and kicked out Spain. The Mexican government did this to create this sense of togetherness and nationalism for the citizens to rally around in times of crisis or in times where they may be doubting the government and its legitimacy. Having this idea to fall back on is crucial to the Mexican government’s stability for years after the new constitution is signed. In reality, there was not much of a change in Mexican daily life at all. The indigenous people were still at the bottom of the social classes, and the creoles and other wealthy elites still maintained their power at the top. A couple of changes were made to help the people that were not in power, such as land reforms, but overall this idea that Mexico was somehow largely changed for the better after the revolution is a myth. What is also avoided when the government speaks about independence is the so called “heroes” of the revolution were not exactly the most righteous guys. On top of often quarreling with one another, many of their tactics were brutal in nature and they did not follow any type of conventional warfare. Many women were harmed in unspeakable ways by the leaders and their men and they were not held accountable for those actions because people believed that overall, what they were fighting for was independence and the ends justified the means. The government of Mexico has done a great job of sweeping these facts under the rug and creating this utopian idea of what the revolution was like.