History Guanajuato

1 history

1.1 pre-hispanic era
1.2 colonial period
1.3 independence , 19th century
1.4 mexican revolution present

history
pre-hispanic era

chupícuaro statuette @ louvre

in pre-hispanic era, bajio saw human development due fertility of soil , presence of surface water agriculture. oldest group inhabit area people known chupícuarios, dominated center of bajío area , active between 800 bce , 300 ce. largest city site called chupícuaro, , influence widespread being found in modern states of zacatecas, querétaro, colima, nayarit, hidalgo, state of mexico, michoacán , guerrero. chupícuaro cities associated toltec city of tula , when city fell, these agricultural cities of guanajuato went decline. , prolonged drought cause these cities abandoned between 10th , 11th centuries guamares left ethnically.

then chichimeca , other nomadic groups entered area. these nomadic indigenous groups generically referred chichimeca, in reality variety of ethnicities such guachichiles, pames , zacatecos. these groups warlike, semi nomadic , did not practice significant agriculture, nor did construct cities. part of state inhabited otomi displaced or dominated purépecha in southwest , chichimeca in other parts. 16th century, of mesoamerica dominated either aztec empire or purépecha empire, guanajuato under control of neither. on northern border of purépecha empire southern guanajuato showing significant cultural influence in southern valleys, , aztecs had ventured area looking minerals. however, of state dominated various chichimeca tribes part of spanish call gran chichimeca. these chichimeca nomadic scattered agricultural communities, in north.

colonial period

san agustín de yuriria convent, founded augustinians in 1550.



jaral de berrios, 1 of important haciendas of colonial era.

as guanajuato marks beginning of arid north of mexico, @ first relatively few spanish came settle opposed points south, rainfall , indigenous labor in greater supply. first spanish expedition arrive guanajuato area led cristóbal de olid in 1522 arrived yuririhapúndaro , pénjamo areas. discovery of silver , gold in area of city of guanajuato spurred spanish settlement of area in 1520s , 1530s. when spanish did arrive, native tribes retreated inaccessible areas of bajío , mountains ranges in state, resisting invaders, attacking settlements , travelers along routes connected spanish settlements , mining camps. unlike more settled indigenous peoples, spanish unable force natives of area work , brought african slaves , indigenous peoples other areas work haciendas , mines. colonization efforts in eastern part of state began in 1542 when spanish land grants issued apaseo , chamácuaro areas. in 1555, san miguel el grande founded protect roads linking mining camps , cities mexico city. villa de león founded in 1576 counterattacks indigenous peoples. through first centuries of colonial period, city of guanajuato dominated because of mines. official name of state guanajuato, estado libre y soberano (guanajuato, free , sovereign state). guanajuato comes purépecha quanaxhuato, has been translated both place of frogs , places of many hills. coat of arms of state of city of guanajuato granted carlos of spain.

in 1590, villa de san luis de la paz founded named after peace (paz) treaty between spanish , chichimeca. spanish occupying of productive land , resources, indigenous of area became extremely impoverished. allowed spanish negotiate peace chiefs in exchange basic goods such blankets, clothes , food. bring temporary truces. long term, evangelization efforts bring longer term submission. franciscans , augustinians worked gradually modify worldview of chichimecas , others until many moved out of mountains , settlements , profess, @ least nominally, catholic faith. however, indigenous remained extremely marginalized , poor, losing both language , culture until intermarried outsiders produce mestizos. through colonial period, of area s wealth came mining, of agriculture springing support mining communities. height of mining came in 18th century, mines in hills around city of guanajuato, leading construction of large number of notable civil , religious buildings in same area. bajío area extremely fertile , became major agricultural area new spain. both of these activities brought in more spanish , criollos take advantage, mestizos , african slaves work mines , fields, making area s population grow rapidly , concentrate in urban centers. area made indentencia or province in 1786, when new spain divided twelve parts.

independence , 19th century

plaza mayor de guanajuato, view of main square of guanajuato, c. 1836 carl nebel

despite riches area produced, lived in oppression , poverty @ end of 18th century, working on haciendas , in mines while few, european-born spaniards, lived in opulence. not indigenous, mestizo , negro slaves having problems social order. many criollos or new world-born spanish marginalized spain-born. 1 of first rebellions against colonial rule came in 1766, when group attacked caja real in guanajuato city protest high taxes. in 1767, there protests against expulsion of jesuits spanish crown. these put down extreme force, spurred conspiracies, , groups organizing against colonial rule, in san miguel el grande , león.

numerous plans made, few carried out or had impact until 1809. in year, group consisting of miguel hidalgo y costilla, ignacio allende, juan aldama, miguel domínguez , more, began plan armed revolt against colonial government. in 1810, plot discovered , hidalgo decided put plans action in september instead of planned date in december. on 15 september, miguel hidalgo y costilla declared grito de dolores in town of dolores (hidalgo). hidalgo, accompanies ignacio allende, left dolores 800 men, half of whom on horseback. through sheer numbers, hidalgo s army had victories, going through economically important , densely populated province of guanajuato. 1 of hidalgo s first stops @ sanctuary of atotonilco. there, hidalgo affixed image of virgin lance adopt banner. inscribed following slogans troops’ flags: long live religion! long live our holy mother of guadalupe! long live ferdinand vii! long live america , death bad government! extent , intensity of movement took viceregal authorities surprise. san miguel , celaya captured little resistance. on 21 september 1810, hidalgo proclaimed general , supreme commander after arriving celaya. @ point, hidalgo s army numbered 50,000. however, because of lack of military discipline, insurgents fell robbing, looting , ransacking towns capturing. on 28 september 1810, hidalgo arrived city of guanajuato. town s spanish , criollo populations took refuge in heavily fortified alhóndiga de granaditas granary defended quartermaster riaños. insurgents overwhelmed defenses in 2 days , killed estimated 400 - 600 men, women , children. fighting associated war of independence return near end of conflict. military commanders luis de cortázar , anastasio bustamante joined forces agustín de iturbide , took city of guanajuato on 8 july 1821, declaring entire state independent of spanish rule. in 1824, guanajuato officially proclaimed state of mexico constitutional congress of mexico.

trolley passing in front of san diego church in guanajuato, 1907

the years after end of war of independence extremely unstable, , continue unstable through of rest of 19th century. dolores , san miguel adopted names of dolores hidalgo , san miguel de allende in honor of began independence movement , in 1826, first constitution of state of guanajuato adopted. of rest of country, guanajuato affected prolonged fighting between liberal , conservative factions foreign incursions dominated 19th century. guanajuato s status vacillated between state (when liberals in charge) , department (when conservatives held upper hand). under liberal ideals, educational institutions such colegio de la santisima trinidad , colegio de la purisima concepción secularized , under control of state. in 1847, general gabriel valencia raised army of 6,000 men fight u.s. invasion of mexico. in 1848, in opposition treaty of guadalupe hidalgo, general marian paredes, general manuel doblado , priest celedonio dómeco de jarauta revolted, taking state capital, defeated , domeco executed firing squad. in 1855, conservative manuel doblado, governor of guanajuato, forced juan Álvarez out of presidency after took power antonio lópez de santa anna. in 1858, government under president benito juárez moved mexico city city of guanajuato before moving again manzanillo , veracruz during reform war. during three-year period, state vacillate various times between liberals , conservatives. in 1863, taken on french installed maximilian emperor of mexico. maximillian did not reign long governor appointed guanajuato, florencio antillón remained in guanajuato until 1877.

mexican revolution present

the situation stabilized on of government of porfirio díaz @ end of 19th century , economy improved, diaz government oppressive. diaz installed francisco mena governor of state, made fortune through concession of railway lines being built modernize country. though slavery officially abolished during war of independence, laborers in farms , mines extremely underpaid , in number of cases not paid @ all. agricultural production reached peak @ end of 19th century, earning state nickname of granary of republic. industrialization took hold in cities such león, salvatierra, celaya , san francisco del rincón, making shoes, textiles , hats. 1 battle of mexican revolution occurred in celaya in 1915 between troops of Álvaro obregón , francisco villa. many state fought , died in other parts of mexico, leaving behind widows , children. after war, large landholdings broken , land redistributed ejidos, or commonly held land, benefitted many rural families.

after end of mexican revolution, fighting in mexico continues cristero war. fighting related prominent in pénjamo , león, occurred in other areas well. in 1946, uprising against government group called sinarquistas occurred in leon. however, of state peaceful of time, allowing economy recover. true of agricultural sector, producing wheat, corn, sorghum, alfalfa, strawberries in irapuato , goats in various parts. goat milk cajeta candy celaya known in of mexico. first festival internacional cervantino occurred in 1972. in 1980s, 2 of state s cities, guanajuato , san miguel de allende declared world heritage sites.

today, bajio 1 of major grain producing regions in mexico. guanajuato congress has asked against theft of religious art in state, has third highest incidence of such. 1 of major occurrences theft of gold crown of black christ of salamanca in 2010. celebration of mexico s bicentennial particularly important state initial events of war in independence occurred here. state set bicentennial route encourage visitors cities associated miguel hidalgo s first campaigns. state held marathon san miguel allende dolores hidalgo bicentennial omar luna winning time of 2h23m14s. state sponsored expo bicentenario 2010 17 july 20 november outside capital city. site marked giant mexican flag flying alongside older historic flags, including replica of standard image of virgin of guadalupe miguel hidalgo carried insurgent banner. expo housed in series of pavilions demonstrated mexican culture, history, traditions , customs. there pavilions hosted various latin american countries celebrated bicentennials around same time.