Latin American independence · 1810-1821

Mexico: from Hidalgo's cry to independence

On 16 September 1810 a village priest rings his church bell and calls for revolt. Eleven years later Mexico is independent, won by poor farmers, priest-generals and a royalist officer who changed sides. Students trace the long road on the map.

Teach it live New Open on the map
Length
50 minutes
Ages
12–15
On the map
3 steps, AD 1800 to AD 1880
Live lesson
7 rounds, 3 on the map
Worksheet
Two A4 pages, with Classroom
You need
A projector; phones for live

Live lesson · new in Classroom

Teach it live. The class answers on their phones.

Put the board on the projector. Students join with a six-digit code, no account needed, and tap the map: where was the frontier, where did the grain come from. Their pins drop in together when you reveal, and the closest student takes the round.

€19 per month: every lesson live, every worksheet, cancel anytime. Rome at its height runs live for free.

A live lesson on the projector: the class's pins on the map around Alexandria, the closest students listed beside it A student's phone: the question and a map to tap
7 rounds
3 places to find on the map, quiz questions, a class vote and a one-line answer.
About 15 minutes
Run it as the map step, or to open the discussion. You move on with the space bar.
A report
Every answer, per student and per round, to read back or print after the lesson.
1

Introduction

5 min

Read aloud

On 16 September 1810 a village priest rings his church bell and calls for revolt. Eleven years later Mexico is independent, won by poor farmers, priest-generals and a royalist officer who changed sides. Students trace the long road on the map.

By the end of the lesson, students can

  • Explain how Napoleon's invasion of Spain in 1808 opened the way to independence movements in New Spain.
  • Describe the roles of Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero and Agustín de Iturbide.
  • Compare the hopes of poor Indigenous and mestizo rebels with those of rich criollos.
2

Explore the map

15 min

Project the map, or let students follow on their own devices. Each step opens the map at the right year and place.

a

AD 1800

New Spain

Open the map in 1800 and zoom out over North America. How far north does the Vice-Royalty of New Spain reach? Which states are its neighbours?

Open this view on the map
b

AD 1810

The heartland

Open the map in 1810 and type "Where is Dolores Hidalgo?" in Ask the atlas. The town lies in the Bajío, a rich mining and farming region. Why might a revolt start in a rich region?

Open this view on the map
c

AD 1880

A new nation

Drag the slider from 1815 to 1880. Mexico now has its own name on the map. Compare it with New Spain: which northern lands has it lost?

Open this view on the map
3

Class discussion

15 min

Pick two or three. They run from what happened to why it mattered.

  1. In 1808 Napoleon put his brother on the Spanish throne. Why did that weaken Spain's hold on its colonies?
  2. Hidalgo was a priest. Why might a priest lead a rebellion?
  3. Why did many rich criollos fear Hidalgo's army in 1810, but support independence in 1821?
  4. Morelos wanted to end slavery and the caste system. Why were these ideas so radical in New Spain?
  5. Mexico celebrates 16 September, the start of the revolt, not the day independence was won in 1821. Why do you think that is?
4

Game round

10 min

No Rule History ruler comes from New Spain. Play Napoleon Bonaparte instead: his invasion of Spain in 1808 left the throne in Madrid in his brother's hands. Discuss: how did a decision in Europe open the door for Hidalgo in Mexico?

Open Rule History
5

Worksheet

5 min

This worksheet comes with Classroom

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