The Mexican RevolutionObjective:• To understand the events that led to the Mexican Revolution

• To understand the struggle for Mexican Democracy

“Porfiriato”

Porfirio Díaz was one of the generals of the Liberal army who was President of Mexico from 1877 until 1911, a period

known as the Porfiriato because the figure of Porfirio Díaz dominated it.

During this period, the economy grew; new railways and telephone networks

were built; new banks opened; industry, mining, agriculture and commerce

expanded. Major concessions led to foreign control over large sectors of the

economy.

David Siquieros Mural: "Don Porfirio [Diaz] and his Courtesans". 1957-65

Although President Díaz brought many benefits to Mexico, he was a dictator - a President who abused his

power. Under Díaz, a few land owners became very wealthy, but the majority of Mexicans remained poor.

The Rebellion Begins

During the first years of the 20th century, a new generation of

educated, young Mexicans that did not belong to Díaz'

group desired change. For the first time in thirty-three

years other political parties were formed.

In 1910, the Mexican Revolution began as a

result of frustration that Diaz's promise of free

elections was not kept and he declared that he had

won yet another election. Francisco I. Madero was

one of those who had organized another political party. After the election he led the revolt against Diaz who eventually resigned and was exiled to France.

Francisco Madero

The Revolution Begins!

Mexican Revolution

In 1913, after a military coup supported by the United States,

Madero was executed and another general, Victoriano Huerta took over

as President.

Elections were then held, which Madero won, but the people were

impatient and Madero was incapable of bringing order to the country.

Madero only made moderate democratic reforms to relieve social

tensions. He was challenged by Emiliano Zapata who wanted

massive land reforms that were expressed in his motto “Tierra y Libertad” (Land and Liberty).

Zapata

General Victoriano HuertaIn 1913 he plotted secretly with

Madero's enemies, and overthrew the president. Huerta established a military dictatorship, notable for political corruption and rule by

imprisonment and assassination. He was supported by large land owners, the army, and foreign

companies. Numerous counterrevolutions broke out; the most important insurgent leaders of the Constitutionalist Movement

were Venustiano Carranza, Francisco Villa, and Emiliano

Zapata.

Pancho Villa Pancho Villa led peasant rebels in the north and attacked the Federal Army.  Villa  lead and fought in a decades worth of battles for the cause with his army known as "The Dorados" (The Golden Boys).  The name was ironic

considering that they were mostly makeshift Revolutionaries who were recruited from village to

village where Villa and his men would pillage to have water, food and women.  During the course of

the Revolution in Mexico, Villa seemed to be blessed, never

sustaining life threatening injuries.

The revolutionaries, including Francisco Villa in the north, and Emiliano Zapata in the south, began a struggle to

overthrow President Huerta.

Soldaderas March

The Mexican Revolution mobilized large segments of the population, both men and women. The Villista forces included railroad workers, cowboys, and townsfolk who took up arms

against the army.

David Siquieros Mural: "People in Arms"

Detail. 1957-65

Under Carranza's presidency a new Constitution was adopted in 1917. The new Constitution took into account individual and social

rights, particularly to protect the workers and the peasants, and was very nationalistic. In 1920, he tried to install a President that was

favorable to him. Alvaro Obregon, who was a candidate for president, rebelled.

Carranza tried to flee to Vera Cruz. On May 20, 1920, he was killed as he slept in a small wooden hut in San Antonio Tlaxcalantongo.

Steady insurgent military pressure forced Huerta to resign in July, 1914. When this

happened, Venustiano Carranza then assumed power. Huerta fled to Europe and returned to the United States, where he was

subsequently arrested for revolutionary activities; he died shortly after being released

from an army jail.

Venustiano Carranza

Alvaro Obregon

Obregón used his military skill and WWI tactics to defeat Villa’s calvalry in a series of bloody battles in 1915 and became president

in 1920. The revolutionary program became official during his administration and advanced into a recognizable if not

thoroughgoing system of agrarian and labor reforms; peonage was still rampant. 

Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata remained in control in their own home territories, but they could not wrest the government from control of the more moderate

leaders in Mexico City.

Zapata

On April 10, 1919, Zapata was tricked into a

meeting with one of Carranza's generals who wanted to "switch sides." The meeting was a trap, and Zapata was killed as

he arrived at the meeting.

Civil War Ended

Since 1920, with the Civil War over, a new “Revolutionary Elite” ruled Mexico. However, the

Revolution had devastated the nation. 1.5 million were killed, major industries destroyed, ranching

and farming were disrupted.

Pancho Villa1. In Jan., 1916, a group of Americans

were shot by bandits in Chihuahua, and on Mar. 9, 1916, some of Villa's men raided the U.S. town of Columbus, N.Mex., killing some American citizens. It is not certain that Villa participated in these assaults, but he was universally held responsible.

2. Wilson ordered a punitive expedition under General Pershing to capture Villa dead or alive. The expedition pursued Villa through Chihuahua for 11 months but failed in its objective. Carranza violently resented this invasion and it embittered relations between Mexico and the United States.

July 20, 1923 Villa

Assassinated

Revolutionary ResultsSome Real Changes:

•1917 Mexican Constitution

•Land reforms, limited foreign ownership of key resources

•Guaranteed rights of workers

•restrictions on clerical education and church ownership of property

•educational reforms

•Workers organized and were represented in government

The Mexican Revolution had a limited impact beyond its borders: WHY?

Comparing RevolutionsRussian Revolution

•1905-1923

•Vladimir Lenin, Leon Trotsky

•peasants want: Land reform, political rights, out of WWI

•autocratic leader - harsh rule, small land owning elite

•“Peace, land, bread” - Marxist reforms

•1917 - March revolution removes Czar - Limited reforms

•1917 - Nov revolution (Bolshevik Rev) creation of USSR - Red Army

•1918-1921 Civil War (Reds vs Whites)

•1924 - Stalin becomes communist

dictator

Mexican Revolution•1910-1920

•Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata

•peasants want: Land reform, political rights

•autocratic leader - harsh rule, small land owning elite, foreign control of industry

•“Tierra y Libertad” - Socialist reforms

•1910 - Diaz Resigns and flees Mexico, Madero in Power - Limited Reforms

•1913 - Madero removed and Killed - General Huerta becomes dictator

•1914-1920 Civil War forces Huerta from power

• 1917 - Mexican Constitution

•1920 - Obregon becomes President - gov’t

led by Revolutionary elite

General Lazaro Cardenas

A most significant political development in Mexico since the Revolution came with the

election of General Lázaro Cardenas as president in 1934. His government carried

out considerable land reform, he reorganized labor, and, most significant of

all, he nationalized the oil industry.

Diego Rivera

Nationalism and Indigenism take hold in Mexico.

Attempts were made to

“Indianize” Mexico. Stressed

nationalism, glorified the past,

and denounced Western capitalism.

Flower Vendor

Blood of the Martyrs fertilizing the earth

Dividing the Land

The exploiters

The Agitator

The Burning of The Judases

The Arsenal - Frida Kahlo distributes arms

Diego Rivera, Leon Trotsky, and Andre Breton in 1937

Pan-American Unity

Epic of The Mexican People Today and Tomorrow

Modern Industry

Frozen Assets

Democracy?After Cardenas, the pace of reform

slowed. Although Mexico is a democracy, one party has dominated the country

since 1929 until very recently.

Party of the Institutionalized Revolution (PRI)

• Revolutionary leaders wanted to institutionalize the new regime.

• Created a One-Party System known as the PRI.

• Incorporated labor, peasant, military, and middle class sectors.

• They controlled politics sometimes through the use of repressive means.

• Limited the President to a one six-year term.

•Developed NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement) Expand economy by building closer ties with U.S. and Canada.

Partido Revolucionario Institucional

The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

Economy• For many years, Mexico followed a policy of economic nationalism. The government imposed high tariffs to protect local industries. By 1974, Mexico borrowed heavily from foreign nations to develop its oil industries.

• By the 1980s, Mexico was in a debt crisis.

• More recently, Mexico moved toward free trade, or trade that had low tariffs and no restrictions.

NAFTA• NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement)

• Members were the countries of _________, __________, and ________________.

• NAFTA would abolish most tariffs on goods traded among the three member nations.

• Goal - Expand economy by building closer ties with U.S. and Canada.

Mexico Canadathe United States

CHALLENGES

Many Mexicans hoped that free trade would attract foreign investment and create new jobs. Based on this cartoon, what is the

concern of some in the United States?

Zapatistas

Calling themselves Zapatistas in honor of Emiliano Zapata, some nearly 2000 masked rebels attacked and captured four towns in

Chiapas in 1994. They demanded work, land, housing, food, health care, and

education.

Choosing Zapata as a symbol of the movement, the Zapatistas tried to show that the basic problems of a fair society

remained unsolved and that the revolution was incomplete.

POLITICAL CHANGE

1. Based on this cartoon, what role has the PRI played in Mexican politics?

2. Explain how the cartoon anticipates a change in Mexican politics.

1. To what is the cartoonist comparing the PRI? Why?

2. Based on this image, what (or who) is going to bring about change?

Vicente Fox 2000-2006

Member of the National Action Party (PAN) was elected president at the end of 2000, thus ending the PRI’s dominance of

the political system of more than half a century.

Felipe Calderon 2006-Present

Lawmakers scuffle as one uses a chair to try to block an access to Congress as opposition lawmakers try to block the arrival of president-elect Felipe Calderon on Friday.

Felipe Calderon was sworn into office despite conflict from those who believe the election was fraudulent.