Paper short abstract:

The Mexican contemporary political development has roots in the crises of the nineteenth century with the conclusion that the choice of 16 September as independence anniversary makes the century important.

Paper long abstract:

Following the declaration of independence, known as "Grito de Dolores" by the radical Mexican Catholic priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on 16 September, 1810, there emerged a surfeit of crises which culminated in the demise of Hidalgo, the father of Mexican independence. However, it was the Treaty of Cordoba in 1821 which eventually established Mexico as an independent nation under a constitutional monarch, Emperor Agustin de Iturbide. His reign was, however, short-lived with republican insurgents, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and Guadalupe Victoria creating the first Mexican republic. This notwithstanding, the wave of crises persisted with external military occupation, the Mexican-American war which claimed half of the Mexican national territories, the disillusionment created by a coterie of illegal regimes as well as the destabilising role played by the pronunciados. All these, however, contributed to the evolution of modern Mexico. In light of these crises and spate of wars, this paper thus examines the historic effects of nineteenth century politicking on the present-day political attitudes, arguing that the crisis of legitimacy, lack of trust in the electoral process and the adoption of presidential system, among others have their roots in nineteenth century Mexico before reaching the conclusion that the Mexican celebration of independence on 16 September every year, and the declaration of independence a day before by the president and state governors in the manner Hidalgo did in 1810, is a testimony to the positive impact of nineteen century politics on modern Mexico.

Keywords: pronunciamiento, destabilisation, legitimacy, culture, pronunciados.