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