LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 205th Anniversary of the Mexi-
can Declaration of Independence from Spain on September 16, 2015

WHEREAS, Highly developed cultures, including the Olmecs, Mayans,
Toltecs, and Aztecs, existed long before the Spanish conquest of Mexico
by Hernan Cortes in 1521; and
WHEREAS, Father Miguel Hidalgo declared the Mexican independence from
Spain September 16th, 1810, in the city of Dolores, in the central state
of Guanajuato; and
WHEREAS, Father Hidalgo's famous proclamation, "End to bad govern-
ment!", popularly known as the "Grito de Dolores" (the cry of Dolores),
was the beginning of a decade-long war of independence; and
WHEREAS, On December 6, 1810, Hidalgo decreed the abolishment of slav-
ery in the city of Guadalajara, for the first time in the Americas; and
WHEREAS, In 1811, Hidalgo and his followers were captured and executed
in the state of Chihuahua; Hidalgo's leadership was then assumed by
Father Jose Maria Morelos; and
WHEREAS, In 1813, the Congress of Chilpancingo, convened by Morelos,
signed the "Solemn Act of the Declaration of Independence of Northern
America"; Father Morelos was subsequently captured and executed by the
Spanish Crown; and
WHEREAS, In 1820, with the insurgency about to collapse, Spain sent an
army led by General Agustin de Iturbide, who instead of quenching the
revolts, joined its forces; and
WHEREAS, In 1821, the formerly Spanish General Agustin de Iturbide and
representatives of the Spanish Crown, signed the Treaty of Cordoba,
recognizing Mexican Independence from Spain; and
WHEREAS, After a short period of a monarchic government, in 1824, a
republican constitution was drafted and Mexico would then be led by its
first President, Guadalupe Victoria; and
WHEREAS, Mexico's war for independence was one of the longest in all
of the Americas; and
WHEREAS, Many Mexicans have made New York their home, and this Legis-
lative Body is justly proud to thank the Mexican people for their
contributions to this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 205th Anniversary of the Mexican Declaration of Inde-
pendence from Spain on September 16, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Ambassador Sandra Fuentes-Berain, Consul General of Mexico in
New York, and the various Mexican civic organizations in the State of
New York.