The Independence of Mexico seen from school: history and writing about it its writing in textbooks, 1821-1911

Abstract

In September 1821, New Spain, the most prosperous and wealthy kingdom of the Spanish empire in the 18th century, became an independent state. The new nation was made up of a vast territory with dispersed inhabitants that did not recognize themselves as citizens or as Mexicans. The nation required unity, identity, and a sense of belonging. Achieving this required various strategies proposed by the intellectual and political elites. They all agreed on the urgent need to write and teach a national history adorned with traditions, mythical moments and heroes, in addition to civic values that would generate citizen loyalty to their new nation. It took several years to do so, as the first half of the century was taken up by failed projects. The objective of teaching Mexican history concerning independence was achieved in the second half of the century and the corresponding material was gradually introduced into school textbooks. This article analyses the independence of Mexico as written up in the first textbooks in order to examine the efforts to indoctrinate future citizen with the most emblematic subject in national history.