5 IMPORTANT HISTORICAL EVENTS IN VERACRUZ - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Veracruz or the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de La Llave, as it is officially known, is one of the 31 states that make up the 32 Mexican states. Also, Veracruz is made up of 212 municipalities, its capital being Xalapa. Among its most important cities are Veracruz, Poza Rica, Boca Del Río, Córdoba, Minatitlán, Coatzacoalcos, and Orizaba.

Located along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Mexico, by 1990 it had a population of 6,856,415 or 7.39% of the Mexican population. Veracruz's topography is very changeable and diverse, starting from a flat tropical coast, passing through temperate valleys and culminating in the Sierra Madre Oriental.

Being the first city founded by the Spanish and having a port of great commercial movement, since its inception Veracruz has witnessed important historical events both for the state itself and for Mexico in general.

Historical events in Veracruz

Prehispanic Stage

The first inhabitants of what would later be known as the State of Veracruz were four indigenous cultures.

The Huastecos and Otomíes occupied the north. While the Totonacas were in the center-north. Finally, the Olmecs, one of the oldest cultures in America, settled in southern Veracruz.

The legacy of the first inhabiting peoples is still palpable, such as the colossal stone heads sculpted by the Olmecs.

Also the pre-Columbian city El Tajín, built by the Totonaca empire, are examples of this heritage.

La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz Foundation

The Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés, reached the shores of what is now known as Veracruz in April 1519.

On May 18, 1519, he began to build a settlement that he named La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, a name that according to oral tradition is due to the gold obtained from the natives and the Catholic festival of Good Friday.

This city became the first Spanish city founded on Mexican soil. Over time, it earned the nickname "the most Spanish of Mexican cities."

The Pastry War

Commercial relations between Mexico and France existed even before France recognized the independence of Mexico in 1830.

France became Mexico's third most important trading partner, but the general chaos and disorder during the first years of the republic caused damage to French goods.

The cake war began in November 1838 when the French took the fort on the island of San Juan de Ulúa in Veracruz.

The conflict culminated in March 1839, with the intervention of Great Britain in the negotiation, which degenerated into numerous claims by French citizens, due to the losses caused by the disturbances in Mexico.

The Siege of Veracruz

Between 1846 and 1848, the United States and Mexico entered into a warlike conflict. The reason was the desire of the US government to take over Mexican territory, including Texas and California.

Within this context, the Siege of Veracruz took place. The Americans were ready to take the city, so they disembarked and began a bombardment of the city and its forts.

American artillery caused great damage and eventually the city fell after a 20-day siege.

The city surrendered on March 27, 1847 and the siege allowed the Americans to supply their troops with supplies and reinforcements, which triggered the fall of Mexico City and the surrender of Mexico.

Rio Blanco strike

The Rio Blanco strike is considered the precedent that caused the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

The 1906 railroad strike caused job instability for workers in the textile and cotton industries in the neighboring states of Tlaxcala and Puebla.

The conflict was between the Great Circle of Free Workers, the central organization of textile workers and the Mexican Industrial Center, which represented the owners of the factories, the majority French.

There was also influence from the recently formed Mexican Liberal Party (PLM), which sought a rural and industrial reform.

References

1. Allan Cogan. (November 1, 1998). Xalapa, Veracruz: city of flowers. 2017, by mexconnect Website: mexconnect.com
2. The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (2017). Veracruz. 2017, from Brtiannica Encyclopedia Website: britannica.com
3. Wikipedia. (2017). Veracruz State. 2017, from Wikipedia Website: en.wikipedia.org
4. John P. Schmal. (2004). THE HISTORY OF VERACRUZ. 2017, from Houston Institute for Culture Website: houstonculture.org
5. Wikipedia. (2017). Foundation of the Spanish town of Veracruz. 2017, from Wikipedia Website: en.wikipedia.org
6. Christopher Minster. (March 03, 2017). The Mexican American War. 2017, by thoughtco Website: thoughtco.com.