| The territory embracing what is now known as | | | | of Dolores to constitute the first army that would |
| México was once one of the richest and | | | | march against Spaniard positions. |
| most important colonies of Spain's Kingdom. Under | | | | The long column of peasants and the few trained |
| the name of the "New Spain" it was the main | | | | officials constituting the "Insurgent Army" |
| source of gold and silver for the Kingdom during | | | | marched during a number of days through the |
| the 400 years of Spaniard domination of this | | | | region gathering more people and resources. Once |
| territory, contributing highly to the emergence of | | | | they felt strong enough they aimed to the |
| Spain as the great power of its time. | | | | biggest Spaniard post in the zone. The world |
| But things were not going very well for the locals | | | | famous mining town of Guanajuato. |
| in the colony, many of whom were treated as | | | | And it's during this episode that the figure of "El |
| slaves, mainly the Indian and African population; | | | | Pipila" comes to scene during the first battle of |
| and many others as "second class" and even | | | | the Independence struggle. Insurgents had put an |
| "third class" citizens of an empire that at the | | | | old grain storage building under siege. All Spaniards |
| beginning of the XIX century was a decadent | | | | had gone into this big building and were using it as |
| shadow of its past greatness. | | | | a fortress to resist the "Insurgent Army" until |
| The new ideas of the French Illustration and the | | | | some reinforcements could come from the capital |
| American Revolution had influenced a number of | | | | or some other post. |
| intellectuals and progressive personalities of the | | | | Insurgents were desperate. The building seemed |
| colony making them think about gaining | | | | to be inexpugnable and they were losing many |
| independence from Spain and implement a | | | | men trying to approach one of the two doors or |
| number of reforms that would make the territory | | | | climbing the walls. Besides, "Realist" reinforcements |
| a new country under many of the values | | | | could be approaching and they were stuck at that |
| proclaimed by the Illustration. | | | | position. |
| Among the people thinking seriously about gaining | | | | Hidalgo and other officials had come to the |
| Independence from Spain, gains great notoriety | | | | conclusion that only by destroying one of the |
| the figure of Miguel Hidalgo, a non-traditional | | | | doors they could hope for a victory. But who |
| catholic priest that had been living in the town of | | | | would do it? Who would dare to approach the |
| "Dolores" in what is now the Mexican state of | | | | door, dodging bullets and put it on fire?...It seemed |
| Guanajuato. He had contributed to the betterment | | | | there was no one willing to take such a high risk |
| of the native population, making him very popular, | | | | to his life. Until "El Pipila" appeared from among the |
| by teaching them a number of crafts and to | | | | peasants. He approached Hidalgo and told him he |
| some, even how to write and read. Many of | | | | was willing to go ahead and burn the door. He had |
| these crafts have survived until our current days; | | | | been thinking how to approach the door and he |
| for example, the world famous "Talavera" | | | | had come to the conclusion he would use a piece |
| ceramic pieces that you can find in what is now | | | | of thick stone laced to his back as protection |
| known as the town of "Dolores Hidalgo". Besides | | | | against bullets and then crawl to the door. |
| his popularity he was also the lider of the local | | | | And that's how he did it. With the heavy piece of |
| conspiration against Spain's rule. | | | | stone on his back and a torch in his hand he |
| It was the year 1810 when the conspiration | | | | slowly crawled under enemy fire until he finally |
| against Spain was finally mature enough to be | | | | reached the door and with his last forces set fire |
| implemented. It was in the month of September | | | | to the door made of wood allowing the Insurgent |
| when, accelerated by the sudden discovery of | | | | Army to enter the building and claiming the first |
| the conspiration by "Realist authorities", the | | | | victory of the struggle for independence of the |
| struggle for Independence was initiated. It was | | | | country that is now known as Mexico. |
| the night of September 15 when Hidalgo and | | | | Very few things are known of what happened to |
| others decided to go ahead and gather the people | | | | 'El Pipila" after this historic episode. |