Final answer:
Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells on September 16, 1810, initiating the Grito de Dolores and the Mexican War of Independence. He called for enlightenment-driven social reforms but was eventually captured and executed.
Step-by-step explanation:
On September 16, 1810, it was Father Miguel Hidalgo who rang the bell from his village church, signaling the start of the Mexican War of Independence with the iconic Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores). This event marked the beginning of a significant rebellion against Spanish rule in which Hidalgo aimed to implement Enlightenment ideas and achieve social reforms to help the poor mestizos. Despite his initial efforts, Hidalgo was defeated and executed in 1811, but he is remembered as a national hero and the father of Mexican independence.