The Aztec calendar is based on the Mayan calendar which was mostly used in the Valley of Mexico in the center of the country and consisted of a ritual cycle and a civil cycle. It was rediscovered in 1790 and mounted on the tower of the Catedral Metropolitana until 1885.  This Aztec calendar today Is an image connected to Mexican nationalism and identity. Then the independence movements of Latin America formed, these indigenous images were closely tied to the New Mexican national identity. When Mexico began to form its own national identity, most denounced Spanish colonialism and favored new growing national cultures. These national identities allowed them to see themselves apart from Spanish colonialism but rather as a new identity as Mexicans. This new identity was based even on events that had occurred before the Spanish were involved in the Americas, and used local native culture as a claim to this new found identity. These images of Aztec and Mayan warriors, the Aztec calendar and other local traditions were used as a precedent to identify themselves as being victims of the Spanish crown, just like the Indigenous were. These rebels who looked to rally people behind a national identity did not see themselves as being connected to the Spanish crown but rather saw their lives as being rooted in America. Later this new identity attempted to erase the ethnic differences of those who lived within its borders in order to rally support behind the newly created Mexican identity. It began to downplay colonial divisions and in attempting to unify the colony opted to create a new identity which severed its ties with Spain. After the Hidalgo revolts liberals wanted federalism, free trade and to dismantle conservative institutions, specifically  the Holy Catholic Church.  This gave way to reactionary inclusions in the writing of new constitutions which allowed for more universal citizenship. Afterward, the breakup of the ejido was an attempt on part of the government to allow indigenous persons to become “regular” citizens but ultimately resulted in a system that tied them to subservient subjects and created a land grab that left them with nothing. Previously caudillos had assisted in building national identity through parades, parties, dances and local traditions were celebrated. By the 1850s industrialization was so intense that Mexico could no longer remain isolated. The rise in liberalism ultimately followed the European scientific explanations of race and Latin America initiated a campaign to be seen as a competitor to European powers. It is clear that Mexico and other countries felt pressured to reflect European ideology and afterward began to restrict the rights of marginalized persons in the country. Mexican elites favored positivism which included the material goals of liberalism but it did not reflect its political goals. Europeans viewed other races as primitive and attributed the differences in races as notions in the times, they believed that they have the ability to modernize with the end result being the current European society. Those who did not agree were viewed as rejecting progress. Elites agreed that when the masses were educated  the voting rights would be expanded. The rise of civilian government created deduction in civilian government participation. Today lighter skinned Mexicans receive preferential treatment against darker skinned Mexicans, as there is a legacy carried on of light skinned being interpreted as more modern and capable. The European elites preferred a form of liberalism in which marginalized groups were excluded. This exclusion rendered the elites control over the government and consequently the economy and distribution of wealth. This subset of liberalism preaches universal participation in one’s government while discrediting non-european voices using tactics to marginalize these minorities, especially after efforts in Latin America to produce new national identities. According to this ideology, a country led by indigenous peoples could only ever be considered as “other,” never to be potentially equal on the world stage. By gravitating toward the new European scientific explanation for the differences in races, they took a step backward in an attempt to appear “modern” and compete with Europe. This forced them to adopt a system that practiced that it was best for Europeans to have a sole rule, as they knew what is “best”. In reality this strategy was not beneficial for those of non European peoples of Mexico, but it was what was necessary in their eyes to survive.