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The Mexican
Revolution
“La Porfiriata”
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 Porfiriata 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
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.
David Siquieros Mural: "Don Porfirio and his Courtesans". 1957-65
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.
Francisco Madero
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.
The Revolution Begins!
Mexican Revolution
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).
In 1913, After a Military coup
supported by the United States,
Madero was executed and another
general, Victoriano Huerta took over
as President.
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 ”Los
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
Venustiano Carranza
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.
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.
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.
In 1920, Carranza tried to install a
President that was favorable to
him. However, he lost support from
the people.
Carranza tried to flee to Veracruz.
On May 20. 1920, he was killed as
he slept in a small wooden hut in
San Antonio Tlaxcalantongo.
Alvaro Obregon
Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata
succeeded in controlling their own home
territories, but they were not able to not
wrest control of the government from the
more moderate leaders in Mexico City.
Alvaro 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.
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 Villa
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.
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 Results
Some 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
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
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.