1784, Jos� Mar�a Alfaro lifted the first air balloon in the Americas, in Xalapa. Due to the abundance of flowers growing in the region, Alexander von Humboldt, who visited the town on 10 February 1804, christened the town as the "City of the Flowers".
Since the beginning of the 19th century, Xalapa was the scene of some important historical events, a town which relished in the movement of Mexican independence from the Spanish. Ideas greatly flowed in the town, and Xalapa was represented by many who put forward these ideas to those in Mexico City in government meetings. On 20 May 1821, shortly before completing Mexican Independence on 27 September of the same year, Xalapa was attacked by the forces of Don Antonio L�pez de Santa Anna, who, along with Don Joaquin Log, they forced Spanish captain Juan Horbregoso to submit the town. Nevertheless independence was completed just months later in more amicable circumstances, although the emperor Agust�n de Iturbide was not warmly received in Xalapa due to past differences.
On 9 May 1824, by decree of the President of the Republic Don Guadalupe Victoria, the First Legislature of the State of Veracruz was established in Xalapa. That same year, Xalapa was declared state capital, In the 1820s Xalapa and the surrounding area was subject to a revolt when Vicente Guerrero replaced General Anastasio Bustamante. Veracruz was attacked by Isidro Barradas, who was attempting to reconquer parts of Mexico, and over 3,000 were deployed to defend the cities of Veracruz, Cordova and Orizaba for military purposes. Anastacio Bustamante, betraying the confidence given to him, revolted against the legitimate government with a new plan of Xalapa, signed on 4 December 1829. Nevertheless, the revolt was subdued.
On 29 November 1830 by decree, Xalapa was elevated to the class of city. On 1843, Don Antonio Mar�a de Rivera founded the Normal School of Xalapa, which is today a preparatory school.
During the American
