Monuments represent a multitude of things and don’t always commemorate a person directly. In some cases, monuments are used to advance political ideologies, culture, and “unity,” with a man’s legacy cemented in an indirect manner through his subtle incorporation within a monument meant for the people.
“The Angel of Independence Statue near High Rise Buildings” Carlos Reyes
Title, Author, Source, License (TASL)
Who is Porfirio Diaz?
Porfirio Diaz is the longest-serving President in Mexico’s history, a role he occupied by any means necessary. Diaz was born in Oaxaca City on September 16, 1830. Following the death of his father as a young child, Diaz had to work as a carpenter’s assistant and learned valuable basic skills. Although he was admitted to a seminary, Diaz joined the National Guard during the war with the U.S. However, it wasn’t until the War of the Reform in 1858 that he participated in any fighting, distinguished himself, and became a brigadier general. In 1862, he became known for his role in the victory against the French in the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1861. His time in the army gave him credibility and respect, which resulted in the state congress of Oaxaca supporting his candidacy for President of Mexico. Diaz lost the election, and Benito Juarez was reelected following the reelection of Juarez; Diaz launched the revolution of f La Noria in protest of what he claimed to be a fraudulent election and demanded that Presidents only serve one term and after the death of Juarez in 1872, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada became president. Porfirio Diaz prepared for his subsequent rebellion. In January 1876, Diaz revolted and called for no reflection and municipal freedom. This time, however, his revolt succeeded, and Diaz became President on November 23, 1876. and remained in office until November 30, 1880. However, this didn’t last long because at eighty years old, Diaz became President again in 1884 until he was overthrown in 1911.
Porfirio Diaz aimed to modernize Mexico and did accomplish this during his rule. Mexico’s economy and industry advanced. International businesses invested in mines in Northern Mexico and in the central and southern regions, and companies restructured agricultural lands. They succeeded in making them more effective in food production, and railroads were built, which increased the export economy. However, the modernization of Mexico under Diaz’s rule came at a price. Mexico has developed economically for some, but most people have fallen behind. While the elites of Mexico grew in wealth and influence, most of the population was pushed aside and neglected every day, working to stay alive. Under the Diaz rule, the rights of citizens were ignored, rural police forces were formed to maintain “order” with the people, injustice and inequality grew, and people were evicted from their lands and homes to make way for commercial development. By 1910, Mexicans were poorer than they had been forty years earlier.
This all ended on May 21, 1911, when the revolutionaries against Diaz succeeded in unseating him and his advocates in the Treaty of Ciudad Juarez with Francisco Madero resulting in Diaz being forced to resign and leaving for Paris where he died in 1915 and is now buried in the Pere Lachaise cemetery.
About the Angel of Independence
The Angel of Independence was unveiled on September 16, 1910, a significant date because it’s when Father Miguel Hidalgo called on the people of Mexico to rise against their Spanish rulers and made the legendary “Grito de Dolores” “Cry of Independence) on September 16, 1810. The monument was created under Porfirio Diaz’s presidency to commemorate the first hundred years of Mexico’s independence from Spain. Antonio Rivas Mercado, a French-trained architect, Mercado studied architecture and design throughout Europe but specialized in capital cities. He created the monument and oversaw the project in its entirety. This iconic landmark is located in Mexico City at the intersection of Paseo De La Forma with Florencia and Rio Tiber. The monument is made up of a large column, 9.5 feet in diameter. Atop the column is the golden angel, and has rings, flowery medallions, and statues of a lion being led by a child; the base of the column contains statues of independence heroes, including Father Hidalgo, who’s placed at the center and above the other statues, and Jose Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, “La Patria,” on the four corners of the column’s base are the “virtue” statues of four women sitting.
However, it is essential to note the monument was not supported by Mexicans during the beginning stages of its creation. People believed the 155-foot monument would obstruct the city view line. After it was unveiled, the angel was received in a more positive light and eventually became a symbol of Mexico itself, beloved by all.
As iconic as today’s angel is, it isn’t the original angel unveiled in 1910 on the night of July 29, 1957, when Mexico experienced an earthquake that split buildings and skyscrapers in half, crumbling houses and apartments, and killed several people. This is known as the night the angel fell. Under Adolfo Ruiz Cortines’s presidency, a new angel was commissioned, and efforts to rebuild were led by Jose Maria Fernandez Urbina, who intended to model the new angel after an American girl. Mexicans were outraged when they found out and demanded to know why their beloved angel couldn’t be pieced together, with some people going as far as against the angel being rebuilt and believing the entire monument should be taken down and placed in a museum where statues belong. In the end, Fernandez attempted to piece together what was salvageable of the original angel but was required to use new parts where necessary, including an old wing that needed to be replaced altogether.
Significance
The Angel of Independence is “a symbol of nationalism, sophistication, and modernity; a reminder of a victorious past and a beacon leading to a more promising tomorrow. “(Dixon) El Angelito (Little Angel) is beloved by Mexico and it is held with much pride it is the sight of ceremonies, parades, and celebrations such as the annual September 16 independence day parade. It is so significant because it depicts the most important moment in Mexican history, the moment of independence. Nevertheless, the sentiment the Angel of Independence has on Mexico is completely due to Diaz; the way the monument is expressed is the same way that he commemorated independence. The monument is embedded with political, economic, and cultural messages embraced by Diaz and his government while they worked on transforming Mexico, City, and the rest of the country; by creating this monument, Diaz was able to reestablish national identity to be less “American” and more “Latin” this idea closeness through a larger Latin family was a myth created by the elites of Mexico which in 1910 the idea of unity between all Latin countries could represent the pinnacle of modernity and while maintaining the cultural heritage of Mexicans. Throughout history, leaders have used monuments to legitimize their authority and cement their legacy. This is the case with the Angel of Independence but done more subtly; let’s begin with the 155-foot column; columns represent, yet a simple architectural design has significance; they are aimed to commemorate the achievements of men, accomplishments, and the triumph of an idea. Although the monument can be seen to celebrate independence and General Miguel Hidalgo (located at the base of the column), Porfirio Diaz is commemorated through this monument. His government left a lasting stamp on Mexico City by expressing Mexican identity. The column is to aggrandize and honor Diaz for being the one to modernize Mexico with its emerging Latin Identity. Even the location of the monument was strategic. Paseo de la Forma was chosen because it is the place where thehave the most powerful economic, political, and cultural influence while at the same time stren monument could gthening the urban transformation in the city. The Angel of Independence connects a major moment in history to a larger discourse of Mexican modernization. Porfirio Diaz wanted Mexicans to believe the monument was a symbol of triumph for all by asking the council he selected to organize the creation of the memorial to go around and ask citizens, architects, and the elites what they wanted the monument to be and then proceeded to completely ignore everyone’s opinions and ended up following his idea.
Conclusion
All in all, The Angel of Independence, despite its origins, continues to be a beacon of strength and pride in Mexico. It is a sight to behold by everyone and is the center of every single type of celebration. It is important to note that, like this monument, there are several other monuments raised by leaders that may depict an ideology but are used to commemorate themselves. The Angel of Independence will continue to be beloved by its citizens and won’t be going anywhere soon.
References
Allen Seeger. “Mexico prepares for its centennial next month: Birthday of the Republic to be celebrated with ceremony — The story of its independence is full of stirring interest.” New York Times (1857-1922), Aug 14, 1910, pp. 1.
Canun, Nicole. “The Origin and History of the Angel of Independence in Mexico City, Mexico.” Homeschool Spanish Academy. October 3, 2021. https://www.spanish.academy/blog/the-origin-and-history-of-the-angel-of-independence-in-mexico-city-mexico/
Conaway, Janelle. “Viva Mexico Celebrating the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Revolution.” April 15, 2024.
“DIAZ UNVEILS GREAT MONUMENT: INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL IN MEXICO CITY.”The Hartford Courant (1887-1922), Sep 17, 1910, pp. 16.
Dixon, Seth. “Making Mexico More Latin: National identity, Statuary and Heritage in Mexico City’s Monument to independence.” April 15, 2024.
“END OF THE DIAZ REGIME.: DEPUTIES UNANIMOUSLY ACCEPT RESIGNATION — WILD SCENES IN STREETS.” New York Times (1857-1922), May 26, 1911, pp. 1.
Gonzales, Michael. “Imagining Mexico in 1910: Visions of the Patria in the Centennial Celebration in Mexico City*.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 39, no. 3, 2007, pp. 495.
Miller, Juliana. “The Angel of Independence.” HistoricalMX, April 30, 2024.
Special to The New York Times. “MEXICO RESTORES A ‘FALLEN ANGEL’: STATUE THAT CRASHED IN 1957 EARTHQUAKE IS REPLACED ATOP 155-FOOT COLUMN.” New York Times (1923-), Sep 07, 1958, pp. 119.
