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Grito de Dolores: Top 10 Must Know Facts
On the morning of September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the parish priest of
the town of Dolores, declared a revolt against Spanish rule. This marked the beginning
of the Mexican War of Independence, an 11 year process that ended with Mexico
getting their independence.
So just what is el grito? And what does it have to do with Mexico’s independence?
Every year, millions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans and fellow revelers from around
the world gather late the night before Mexican Independence Day (September 16) to
join a massive, synchronized call-and-response that dates back to 1910, the one
hundredth anniversary of Mexican Independence.
In a nutshell, what you should know is…
1. The people of Mexico wanted freedom from the Spaniards and were
willing to fight for it. They had been forced into slavery more than 300 years
earlier.
2. On September 15th, Father Hidalgo received news that his rebellious
activities had been found out (he was among those involved in conspiracies
against Spanish rule).
3. As a result, Father Miguel Hidalgo, rallied the people of Dolores,
Guanajuato on September 15th, 1810, and gave them the speech known
today as El Grito de Dolores.
4. El Grito de Dolores means The Cry of Pains
5. El Grito de Dolores consisted of Father Hidalgo ringing the bell of El
Palacio Nacional (you studied this in 7th grade!) and shouting important war
hero’s names followed by “Viva Mexico, viva la independencia!”
6. Father Hidalgo had a following of nearly 90,000 poor farmers and
Mexican civilians.
7. Father Hidalgo and the other leaders of his group initially set out to rebel
on October 2nd, but his plans were changed when he got the news on
September 15th that the Spaniards were coming for him.
Yo soy_________________________
Grito de Dolores: Top 10 Must Know Facts
8. Father Hidalgo was eventually captured and killed in 1811. He was used
as an example of what happened to traitors against Spain, and his body
was put on display in front of his church.
9. It took 11 years for the Mexicans to defeat the Spaniards. Mexico finally
gained independence in 1821.
10. It took Mexico two years for their first presidential election, which was
held in 1823.
Grito de Dolores Words & Speech Text
[In English]
Mexicans!
Long live the heroes that gave us the Fatherland!
Long live Hidalgo!
Long live Morelos!
Long live Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez!
Long live Allende!
Long live Aldama and Matamoros!
Long live National Independence!
Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico!
[In Spanish]
¡Mexicanos!
¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria!
¡Viva Hidalgo!
¡Viva Morelos!
¡Viva Josefa Ortíz de Dominguez!
¡Viva Allende!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros!
¡Viva la Independencia Nacional!
¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!
Yo soy_________________________
Grito de Dolores: Top 10 Must Know Facts
Your Assignment –
Go online, find a painting or mural depicting either – Hidalgo, El Grito, or La Independencia de
México – and copy/paste it below. CIRCLE one of the people in the painting and below, write a
Spanish description of him/her telling
 Identity of the person you circled
 Physical appearance (3-5 adjectives)
 Hair color/style/length
 Personality (based on what you think you can tell, or from what you already know)
 Extra – Who is the artist of this painting?
SUBMIT your work back to me via Google Classroom. If possible, just send me this page.