9781422286944

The States of Mexico

Juárez’s troops in 1867. His last words were, “Mexicans, I am going to die for a just cause: the liberty and independence of Mexico. May my blood be the last shed for the happiness of my new country!” Unfortunately, his blood was not the last shed for Mexico. Trouble and strife continued to haunt the nation, and the end of the Mexican-American War was finalized here as well. When Mexico signed the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in Querétaro, it gave away its northern territories to the United States. Nevertheless, today Querétaro is proud of its historic past, even as it struggles to deal with the modern problems of poverty and industrial pollution. Hidalgo Head southeast as you leave Guanajuato, and you will find yourself in the state of Hidalgo. Shadowed by tall volcanic mountains, this area was originally inhabited by the ancient Huastec people. When the Toltecs rose to prominence, they built their center in what is now the city of Tula. In the end, the Toltecs were swallowed by the Aztec empire— which ultimately gave way to the

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Spanish in the 16th century. Then in the War for Independence, the state again suffered from heavy fighting. But despite the centuries of turmoil, the area is now an important cog in

Statues of Toltec warriors at the ancient city of Tula in Hidalgo.