Cuauhtémoc was the last tlatoani, or ruler, of the Mexica people of Tenochtitlan. He became leader during the final stage of the Spanish siege in 1521, when the Mexica capital was under extreme pressure from Hernán Cortés and his Indigenous allies.

In Mexican memory, Cuauhtémoc is honored as a symbol of resistance, dignity, and defense of the homeland. For citizenship learners, he represents the end of the Mexica Empire and the beginning of colonial Mexico, but also the continuing importance of Indigenous resistance in national identity.