MexicoBy Jesse Burkett

Mexico City is the capital and largest city in Mexico. Their federal republic government is governed by President Felipe Calderon. To the north of Mexico is the U.S.A. and to the southeast are the countries Guatemala and Belize.

•Mexico’s FlagMexico’s flag has three vertical stripes in green,

white, and red with the coat of arms in the middle white stripe. Before Benito Juarez changed the meanings of the colors while he was President the green represented independence, the white religion, and the red the union of Americans and Europeans. He changed them to represent hope, unity, and the blood of the national heroes.

•Mexican IndependenceIndependence day for Mexico is celebrated

every September 16 because that was the day in 1810 that the priest Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla led a revolt against Spanish rule. He failed and was executed. Father Jose Maria Morelos led another revolt after Father Hidalgo was executed. Father Morelos also failed and was executed, but when the Mexican-born Spanish and the Catholic Church added their support to the revolution the revolt finally succeeded in 1821.

•The Battle of the AlamoOn February 23, 1836 Santa Anna’s army reached

what is now San Antonio determined to crush the Texan rebellion. They laid siege to the Alamo for thirteen days and on March 5 they surrounded it with all the rebels trapped inside. They then rushed the fort with about 1,400 men and soon all of the rebels were dead. The victory was costly though, around 600 Mexican soldiers were dead.

•Los Niños Heroes This holiday is celebrated in Mexico on September

13 to honor six young men from 13-19 years old who fought for their country in the Mexican-American War during the Battle of Chapultepec. These men, Juan de la Barrera, Juan Escutia, Francisco Marquez, Agustin Melgar, Fernando Montes de Oca, and Vicente Suarez gave their lives defending their country.

•Independence MonumentAlso referred to as the Angel of

Independence this monument was built in remembrance of the War of Independence centennial celebrations in 1910. It is a 21-foot golden, winged angel on top of a 118-foot column. This monument is located in Mexico City.

•The Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico is to the northeast of

Mexico. The total area is about 600,000 square miles and the longest distance across the gulf is about 1,000 miles. Sebastian de Ocampo was credited with being the first European to discover the Gulf.

•Benito JuarezBenito Juarez helped install many liberal

reforms that were put into the new Mexican constitution in 1857. He was exiled twice when the conservatives took control of Mexico. But when he was able to return he became President from 1861-1872. He died in 1872 of a heart attack.

•Sor Juana Ines de la CruzBorn in 1651 she is considered to be

Mexico’s first feminist. She was a great and controversial writer and poet. She is on the 200-peso note. She studied theology while in a convent. She wrote many controversial plays and letters that caused many to think badly of her.

•Cinco De MayoThis holiday is celebrated on the fifth of

May to commemorate a victory over the French invading forces in 1862. In this victory 4,500 Mexican militia defeated 6,500 well armed French soldiers. Though this victory was a great one, it was also a short one, later Napoleon sent 30,000 more troops to invade and control Mexico.

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