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Topic of the Month

September 2026

Los Gritos de Septiembre

Mexico, Puerto Rico, and September鈥檚 independence commemorations across Latin America

The Mexican flag waving against a clear sky
Mexico 路 Grito de Dolores 路 September 16, 1810
Photo by 路
The Puerto Rican flag flying outdoors
Puerto Rico 路 Grito de Lares 路 September 23, 1868
Photo by 路

The Grito de Dolores and the Grito de Lares were landmark anticolonial uprisings in the histories of Mexico and Puerto Rico. Although both challenged Spanish colonial rule and invoked powerful ideals of political liberty, they unfolded under very different conditions and produced sharply different outcomes. The Grito de Dolores began on September 16, 1810, when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called residents of Dolores, in New Spain, to rise against Spanish authority. The Grito de Lares occurred on September 23, 1868, when Puerto Rican revolutionaries seized the town of Lares, declared a short-lived Republic of Puerto Rico, and demanded independence from Spain. Both movements grew out of resentment toward colonial rule, but Mexico鈥檚 uprising developed into a long war of independence, while Puerto Rico鈥檚 revolt was suppressed within days.

Two movements, different conditions

September 16, 1810 路 New Spain

Mexico and the Grito de Dolores

Mexico鈥檚 movement benefited from a severe political crisis within the Spanish Empire. Napoleon鈥檚 invasion of Spain in 1808 and the removal of King Ferdinand VII weakened the legitimacy of Spanish officials throughout the Americas.

In New Spain, conflicts between peninsulares鈥擲paniards born in Europe鈥攁nd American-born criollos intensified as many local elites questioned who had the legitimate authority to govern. These political divisions overlapped with widespread social and economic hardship. Indigenous communities, mestizos, castas, peasants, mine workers, and urban laborers faced high taxes, debt, unequal landholding, racial discrimination, and limited political power. Hidalgo鈥檚 call connected elite concerns about colonial exclusion with the broader grievances of marginalized groups. As a result, the rebellion gained large numbers of supporters, especially in the heavily populated agricultural and mining regions of central Mexico.

September 23, 1868 路 Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico and the Grito de Lares

The Grito de Lares also emerged from serious political and socioeconomic tensions, but Puerto Rico鈥檚 colonial circumstances made a sustained rebellion much more difficult. By the 1860s, Spain restricted political participation on the island, censored criticism, and closely monitored advocates of reform, autonomy, and independence. Puerto Rico鈥檚 economy depended heavily on export agriculture, especially sugar and coffee, and many people had limited access to land, credit, and economic security.

Enslaved people, free laborers, small farmers, and debt-burdened agricultural workers experienced different forms of inequality, while political reformers criticized Spain鈥檚 taxation and trade policies. Leaders such as Ram贸n Emeterio Betances and Segundo Ruiz Belvis organized clandestine networks and sought support among Caribbean exiles. However, the planned rebellion was discovered before its intended date. The insurgents lacked enough weapons, trained forces, coordination, and broad elite support to sustain the revolt.

Why the outcomes diverged

The Mexican uprising succeeded not because Hidalgo鈥檚 initial rebellion immediately defeated Spain鈥擧idalgo was captured and executed in 1811鈥攂ut because it began a conflict that continued across a vast territory for more than a decade. Mexico鈥檚 population, geographic scale, regional divisions, and continuing social unrest allowed later insurgent leaders, including Jos茅 Mar铆a Morelos and Vicente Guerrero, to carry on the struggle. Mexico ultimately became independent in 1821, although September 16 is celebrated as Independence Day because it commemorates Hidalgo鈥檚 original call to revolt in 1810.

Puerto Rico, by contrast, was a smaller island colony that Spanish authorities could monitor and control more easily. The Lares insurgents faced an immediate and forceful military response, had fewer resources, and could not build the same sustained regional movement that developed in Mexico. The Grito de Lares failed as a military revolution, but it remained historically influential. It became an enduring symbol of Puerto Rican nationalism, anticolonial resistance, abolitionism, and the continuing pursuit of political self-determination.

Independence in September

Mexico and Puerto Rico are part of a broader history of Latin American anticolonial movements remembered during September. Several countries celebrate national independence days during the month, but the dates may commemorate different moments: the beginning of a revolt, a declaration of independence, the formation of a local government, or the final achievement of sovereignty.

  • September 7, 1822

    Brazil

    Brazil declared independence from Portugal under Dom Pedro, who later became Emperor Pedro I. Unlike Spanish America, Brazil鈥檚 separation from its colonial power preserved a monarchy for several decades.

  • September 15, 1821

    Costa Rica

    Costa Rica commemorates the independence of Central America from Spain. It shared this date and process with Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador.

  • September 15, 1821

    Guatemala

    Guatemala City was the site where Central American leaders adopted the Act of Independence from Spain. The region then experienced brief incorporation into the Mexican Empire before the Central American states separated from Mexico.

  • September 15, 1821

    Honduras

    Honduras celebrates the Central American declaration of independence from Spain. Like its neighbors, it later became part of the Federal Republic of Central America before becoming a separate republic.

  • September 15, 1821

    Nicaragua

    Nicaragua also commemorates the Central American break from Spanish rule on September 15. Its independence was connected to the same regional political process as Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.

  • September 16, 1810

    Mexico

    Mexico commemorates the Grito de Dolores, Hidalgo鈥檚 call to arms that began the Mexican War of Independence. Mexico formally achieved independence in 1821.

  • September 18, 1810

    Chile

    Chile commemorates the creation of a local governing junta in Santiago after the collapse of royal authority in Spain. This was an early and decisive step in Chile鈥檚 longer independence struggle.

  • September 21, 1981

    Belize

    Belize became independent from the United Kingdom, rather than Spain. Its September holiday therefore reflects a later and distinct decolonization process in Central America.

  • September 23, 1868

    Puerto Rico

    Puerto Rico commemorates the Grito de Lares, an unsuccessful but influential uprising against Spanish rule. Unlike the other countries listed, Puerto Rico did not become an independent nation after the revolt.

Sources and further reading
Digital Bibliography
  1. Library of Congress. (n.d.). Grito de Lares: The rebellion of 1868. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
  2. Library of Congress. (n.d.). Independence from Spain to President Porfirio D铆az. The Mexican Revolution and the United States. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
  3. National Museum of the American Latino, Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Hispanic Heritage Month. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
  4. National Museum of the American Latino, Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). Latin Independence Days. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
  5. Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State. (n.d.). Central American Federation. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
  6. United States Census Bureau. (2023, September 15). National Hispanic Heritage Month: Sept. 15鈥揙ct. 15, 2023. Retrieved September 8, 2026, from
Physical Bibliography
  1. Althoff, J., & Stanford Central America Action Network. (1983). Revolution in Central America. Westview Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1439 .R48 1983)
  2. Beals, C. (1963). Latin America: World in Revolution. Abelard-Schuman. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1414 .B42)
  3. Biesanz, R., Biesanz, K. Z., & Biesanz, M. H. (1988). The Costa Ricans. Waveland Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1543 .B57 1988)
  4. Clissold, S. (1969). Bernardo O鈥橦iggins and the independence of Chile. Praeger. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F3094 .O35517 1969)
  5. Collier, S., & Sater, W. F. (1996). A history of Chile, 1808-1994. Cambridge University Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F3093 .C65 1996)
  6. Da Pena, R. (1978). Belize: prospects for independence and sovereignty. University of California, Los Angeles. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1444.2 .D3)
  7. Dobson, N. (1973). A history of Belize. Longman Caribbean. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1446 .D56 1973)
  8. Humphreys, R. A. (1961). The diplomatic history of British Honduras, 1638-1901. Oxford University Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1449.B7 H8)
  9. Kelsey, V., & Osborne, L. de J. (1961) Four Keys to Guatemala (Rev. ed.). Funk & Wagnalls. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1463 .K45 1961)
  10. Massey, D. B. (1987). Nicaragua. Open University Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; HT128.N5 M37 1987)
  11. Meyer, M. C., Sherman, W. L., & Deeds, S. M. (2003). The course of Mexican history (7th ed.) Oxford University Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1226 .M54 2003)
  12. Osborne, L. de J. (1956). Four keys to El Salvador. Funk & Wagnalls. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1484.2 O8)
  13. Ropp, S. C., & Morris, J. A. (1984). Central America: Crisis and Adaptation (First edition). University of New Mexico Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1439.5 .C454 1984)
  14. Waddell, D. A. G. (1961). British Honduras, a historical and contemporary survey. Oxford University Press. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1443 .W3)
  15. White, A. (1973). El Salvador. Praeger. (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; F1483 .W47)
  16. Woodward, R. L. & Herstein, S. R. (1983). Nicaragua. Clio Press (Book Collection - Malpass Library ; Z1481 .W66 1983)