7 outstanding historical facts of Mexico (with explanation)
They say that to understand the present you have to know the past, that therein lies the importance of history in our lives. Each country offers, in addition to its culture and its people, a legacy of facts that, in addition to being interesting, allow us to see the origins of its identity.
Here we will take a look at the historical facts of Mexico most representative that marked the course of its history and its place in the world.
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The 7 most relevant historical facts of Mexico
From the first century AD. C until the last decades, the events that have marked the history of this country are fascinating and are a window to the understanding of its cultural richness and legacy to the world.
1. Construction of the pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacan
To this day, the pyramid of the sun is one of the most fascinating and enigmatic constructions in the world, the The beginning of its construction dates back to the year I AD and is a reflection of the splendor of the culture that is found there. settled.
It is believed that the arrival of the settlers to this city dates back to the year 100 B.C.; However, to date, the data on the ethnic origin of its inhabitants and the reason for its decline as civilization as well as the abandonment of the ceremonial center are uncertain, enveloping it with a halo of mysticism culture.
The pyramid of the sun and the entire archaeological zone are still under constant investigation, even just a few months ago discoveries were made that could change for complete the information that was available when discovering that cultures such as the Maya lived there permanently, a fact that was completely ignored before this discovery.
For these reasons, the construction of the pyramid of the sun as a symbol of the civilization that is there settled and which is full of enigmas, is one of the most important historical events in Mexico. interesting.
2. Foundation of Tenochtitlan
In this very important event in Mexico, legend mixes with history. It is said that a tribe arrived in what is now Mexico City guided by the sign that their god Huitzilopochtli had revealed to them: they should settle in the place where they saw an eagle on a cactus devouring a snake.
Being a passage of history sheltered by myth, there is no precise data on the founding of the city, however it has been established that it happened around the year 1325 or 1345.
This event is important because over the years the capital of the Mexicas became the largest and most powerful of the time in the whole world and dominated much of Mesoamerica until the arrival of the Spanish in Tenochtitlán. This fact is linked to the arrival of Hernán Cortés to become two of the most relevant episodes in the history of Mexico.
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3. The conquest
In January 1517, Hernán Cortés arrived on the Yucatan coast to start an expedition for the purpose of exploration and trade; however, upon his arrival and after several years of alliances, battles and strategies, in 1521 what was known as "The conquest of Mexico" by defeating what was the most important capital at that time: Tenochtitlan.
From that moment and officially, the Mexica people formed the first territory, which Later, with the conquest of the rest of the cultures, it would be known as the Viceroyalty of New Spain. and that would give rise to the mestizo Mexico characterized by the meeting of these two cultures.
For this reason, this event is one of the most representative in the history of Mexico, marking a before and after in the life, culture, and organization of the country.
4. Mexico's independence
Another Mexican historical event occurs almost 300 years after The Conquest, and it is the fight for the independence of Mexico.
Headed by the priest Miguel Hidalgo, who calls to rise up in arms on September 15, 1810, the fight begins to end Spanish rule over Mexico and On September 27, 1821, with the triumphant entry of the Trigarante army, this fight was terminated by proclaiming the independence.
However, it was not until 1836, after several reconquest attempts, that Spain recognized the absolute independence of Mexico.
5. Mexican Revolution
After 35 years of a dictatorial government known as the Porfiriato, The Mexican population rises up in arms to overthrow President Porfirio Díaz, who under his mandate achieved the economic growth of the country but at the expense of the social well-being of the most disadvantaged sectors that were already in great discontent. The latter joined the call of Francisco I. Madero to take up arms, getting Porfirio Díaz to resign and flee the country.
After this, when elections were held, Madero was the winner, generating the discontent of other revolutionaries who did not see the new president. a solution to the demands of the majority of the inhabitants submerged in poverty, for which reason the revolt would not end until the assassination of Francisco YO. Madero, the succession of Victoriano Huerta and his eventual resignation due to the discontent of other leaders such as Francisco Villa and Venustiano Carranza, who in 1917 promulgated the new constitution thus ending this historical fact of Mexico.
6. Battle of the Alamo
After the independence of Mexico in 1921 from Spain, the Mexican province of Texas became one of the most prosperous regions of the new Mexican empire, which is why it was progressively colonized by Americans from the north.
One of the most important settlers in Texas was Stephen Austin, a Virginian businessman. which successfully moved more than 1,000 Americans to the region from 1825 onward.
Taking advantage of the growing prosperity of Texas, the Mexican government decided to unite the province with the state of Coahuila, a fact that ended with the angry protests of Texans who had frustrated their dream of becoming a new state integrated into Mexico.
In 1833, Antonio López de Santa Anna became president of Mexico., who concentrated national power in Mexico City, dissolved the State Legislative Body and abolished the country's Federal Constitution in 1834.
The Texan response was immediate and in the city of San Antonio there was numerous fighting between American settlers and Mexican soldiers, to the point where a real civil war broke out.
In February 1833 Texan leaders met to declare Texas independence while fighting were still taking place, since President Santa Anna had sent an army of 4000 Mexican soldiers to San Anthony.
Faced with the imminent Mexican attack, many Texans took refuge in the Alamo Mission., a fortress near the city of San Antonio, which was attacked from all four sides during the early morning of March 6, 1836, leaving hundreds of civilian and military victims.
7. Cakes war
The First French Intervention in Mexico, also popularly known as the "War of the Pastries" was one of the most important events in the history of Mexico and involved countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States Joined.
After the Mexican independence of 1821, Several French residents living in that country, including a pastry chef, demanded reparations from the State for the damage suffered in his businesses during the war against Spain.
The Government of Mexico disregarded these claims and refused to compensate the losses caused by a revolutionary movement, which is why French citizens informed their government of the grievance.
In this situation, the French Empire decided to send a squadron of 26 French Navy warships on April 16, 1838, imposing an ultimatum on Mexico in which it demanded payment for those reparations and threatened to blockad its ports.
Faced with the Mexican refusal, the French Navy attacked the Fortress of San Juan de Ulúa in the city of Veracruz, on November 27, 1838. In response to that attack, The Mexican government signed the Peace Treaty in Veracruz with France on March 9, 1839.
In this treaty, Mexico promised to pay 600,000 pesos as compensation to French citizens, but refused to grant the treaty that France demanded in which it requested commercial advantages.