Mexico Ends Spanish Rule In most Latin American countries, creoles led the revolutionary movements. But in Mexico, ethnic and racial groups mixed more freely. There, Indians and mestizos played the leading role. A Cry for Freedom In 1810, Padre Miguel Hidalgo (mee GEHL ee THAHL goh). a priest in the small village of Dolores, took the first step toward independence. Hidalgo was a poor but well-educated man. He firmly believed in Enlightenment ideals. On September 16, 1810, he rang the bells of his village church. When the peasants gathered in the church, he issued a call for rebellion against the Spanish Today, that call is known as the grito de Dolores (the cry of Dolores). The very next day, Hidalgo's Indian and mestizo followers began a march towar Mexico City. This unruly army soon numbered 80,000 men. The uprising o he lower classes alarmed the Spanish army and creoles, who feared the loss of the property, control of the land, and their lives. The army defeated Hidalgo in 1811. Th rebels then rallied around another strong leader, Padre José María Morelo moh RAY lohs). Morelos led the revolution for four years. However, in 1815, a cr le officer, Agustín de Iturbide (ah-goos TEEN day ee toor BEE day), defeated hir Mexico's Independence Events in Mexico took yet another turn in 1820 when evolution in Spain put a liberal group in power there. Mexico's creoles feared t Oss of their privileges in the Spanish-controlled colony. So they united in supp f Mexico's independence from Spain. Ironically, Agustin de Iturbide-the m ho had defeated the rebel Padre Morelos-proclaimed independence in 1821. Latin America, 1800 INTERACTIVE UNITED ALTY OF STATES PAIN Gulf of Mexice DOMINGUE SANTO DOMINGO NDURAS CAPTAINCY-GENERAL OF VENEZUELA Caribbean Sea JAMAICA Topic of Cancer Latin America, 1830 INTERACTIVE 40N ATLANTIC OCEAN MEXICO UNITED STATES PACIFIC Mexico City BR. HONDURAS Gulf of Mexice SAINT-