History of Mexico

Pre-Columbian Civilizations

Spanish Conquest of Mexico

New Spain

Mexican War of Independence

Independent Mexico

La Reforma

French intervention in Mexico

Restored Republic

Porfiriato

Mexican Revolution

Modern Mexico

A graphical timeline is available here:

Timeline of the Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution (Spanish: Revolución Mexicana) was a major armed struggle that started with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime dictator Porfirio Díaz. Mexico is a country in North America and the largest Spanish -speaking country in the world Mesoamerican chronology divides the history of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica into a number of named successive eras or periods from the earliest evidence of human habitation The Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire was one of the most important campaigns in the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España was a name given to the Viceroy -ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America, The Mexican War of Independence (1810 - 1821 was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and Spanish colonial authorities which started on September 16 1810 La Reforma (The Reform was a period halfway through the 19th century in the History of Mexico that was characterized by liberal reforms and the transformation The French intervention in Mexico, also known as the Maximilian Affair and The Franco-Mexican War, was an invasion of Mexico by the army of the José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico The first of the major revolutions of the 20th century, the Mexican Revolution was characterized by several Constitutional, liberal and agrarianist movements. For the revolt in Brazil, see Constitutionalist Revolution. The term Constitutionalism is a word with a variety of meanings Liberalism is a broad array of related ideas and theories of Government that consider individual Liberty to be the most important political goal Agrarianism is a social and Political philosophy which stresses the viewpoint that the cultivation of plants or Farming leads to a fuller and happier life

It progressed into a protracted and complicated civil war. It produced the Mexican Constitution of 1917. The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present Constitution of Mexico. The Revolution is generally considered to have lasted until 1920, although the country continued to have sporadic but comparatively minor outbreaks of rebellion in the 1920s, such as the Cristero War. The Cristero War (also known as the Cristiada of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and Counter-revolution against the Anti-Catholic Mexican government of the time set The Revolution triggered the creation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929 (renamed the Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI in 1946). The Institutional Revolutionary Party ( Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Institucional or PRI) is a Mexican Political party that wielded Putting forward a variety of leaders, the PRI held power and led the country until the general election of 2000. Mexico held a general election on Sunday July 2 2000. At stake were the Presidency of the Republic, all 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies

Porfirio Díaz's rule (1876-1910)

Main article: Porfirio Díaz

General Porfirio Díaz. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico

Mexican federal soldiers in 1912

After Benito Juárez’s death in 1872, Porfirio Díaz wanted to take over as Mexico’s leader. Benito Pablo Juárez García (benit̪o paβ̞lo xwaɾes gaɾsia ( March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The two men were allies and had fought against the French in the Battle of Puebla, but once Juárez rose to power, Díaz tried to unseat him. The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862 near the city of Puebla during the French intervention in Mexico. Díaz began his reign as president in 1876, and ruled until 1910 when Francisco I. Madero succeeded him, taking office in 1911. Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served Díaz’s regime is remembered for the advances he brought in industry and modernization, but at the expense of human rights and liberal reforms. He worked to reduce the power of the Catholic Church and expropriated some of their large property holdings.

The era of Porfirio Díaz’s government from 1876–1910 is known as the Porfiriato. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico Díaz had a strict “No Re-election” policy in which presidents could not serve consecutive terms in office. He followed this rule when he stepped down after his first term and was succeeded by Manuel González, one of his underlings. For the Peruvian political figure see Manuel González Prada. The new president’s period in office was marked by corruption and official incompetence. When Díaz ran in the next election, he was a welcome replacement. In future elections, Díaz would conveniently put aside his "No Re-election" slogan and run for president in every election.

Díaz became the dictator he had warned the people against. Through the army, the Rurales, and gangs of thugs, Diaz frightened people into voting for him. Rurales ( Spanish for "Rurals" was the name commonly used to designate the Mexican Guardia Rural ( Rural Guard) a If bullying citizens into voting for him failed, he simply rigged the votes in his favor. Díaz knew he was violating the constitution, as well as his own liberal beliefs, by using force to stay in office. He justified his acts by claiming that Mexico was not yet ready to govern itself; only he knew what was best for his country, and he enforced his belief with a strong hand. "Order followed by Progress" were the watchwords of his rule.

While Díaz’s presidency was characterized by promotion of industry and the pacification of the country, it came at the expense of the working class, farmers and peasants, who suffered extreme exploitation. The economy took a great leap during the Porfiriato, especially through the encouragement of construction such as factories, roads, dams, industries, and better farms. This resulted in the rise of an urban proletariat and the influx of foreign capital (principally from the United States). The proletariat (from Latin la ''proles'' "offspring" is a term used to identify a lower Social class; a member of such a class is proletarian The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Progress came at a price though, since civil liberties such as freedom of the press were suspended under the Porfiriato. The growing influence of the United States was a constant problem for Díaz, since a major portion of Mexico's land had earlier been lost to the United States in the Mexican-American War.

Wealth, political power, and access to education were concentrated among a handful of families, overwhelmingly of European descent, who controlled much property in large estates. Most of the people in Mexico were landless. Foreign companies, mostly from the United Kingdom, France, and the United States, also exercised power in Mexico. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics.

Díaz changed land reform efforts started under previous leaders. Díaz’s new land laws virtually undid all the hard work by leaders such as Juárez. No peasant or farmer could claim the land he occupied without formal legal title. Small farmers were helpless and angry; change of power would be necessary if Mexico was to continue being successful. From this cause, many leaders including Francisco I. Madero, Pancho Villa, and Emiliano Zapata would launch a rebellion against Díaz, escalating into the eventual Mexican Revolution. Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Emiliano Zapata Salazar ( August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in

Francisco I. Madero

Most historians mark the end of the Porfiriato in 1911 as the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served In a 1908 interview with the U. S. journalist James Creelman, Díaz stated that Mexico was ready for democracy and elections and that he would step down to allow other candidates to compete for the presidency. Growing "old and careless," Díaz figured he would retire to Europe and allow a younger man to take over his presidency. Because of the dissidence this caused, Díaz decided to run again in 1910 for the last time, with an eye toward arranging a succession in the middle of his term.

Madero decided to run against Díaz in 1910. Diaz thought he could control the election as he had the previous seven. ^[1] Although similar overall to Díaz in his ideology, unlike Díaz, Madero hoped for other elites to rule alongside the President. Díaz, however, did not approve of Madero and had him jailed on election day in 1910. Díaz was announced the winner of the election by a landslide, providing the initial impetus for the outbreak of the Revolution.

Francisco I. Madero's presidency (1911-1913)

Main article: Francisco I. Madero

Indians with Madero's army

Leaders of the 1910 revolt pose for a photo after the First Battle of Juárez. Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served Seen are José María Pino Suárez, Venustiano Carranza, Francisco I. Madero (and his father), Pascual Orozco, Pancho Villa, Gustavo Madero, Raul Madero, Abraham Gonzalez, and Giuseppe Garibaldi Jr. José María Pino Suárez ( September 8, 1869 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a Mexican Politician, Writer Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served Pascual Orozco (in contemporary documents sometimes spelled "Oroszco" ( 28 January 1882 &ndash 30 August 1915) was a Mexican Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Abraham González Casavantes ( June 7, 1864 &ndash March 7, 1913) was the provisional and constitutional governor of the Mexican

Francisco I. Madero, a young man from a wealthy family in the northern state of Coahuila, stated in 1910 that he would be running in the next election against Díaz for the presidency. Francisco Indalecio Madero González ( October 30, 1873 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a politician writer and Revolutionary who served Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of Mexico 's 31 component states. In order to ensure that Madero did not win, Díaz had Madero thrown in jail and then declared himself the winner. Madero soon escaped and fled for a short period of time to Texas, United States. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the On October 5, 1910, Madero issued a "letter from jail" called the Plan de San Luis Potosí, with its main slogan "free suffrage and no re-election. Events 869 - The Fourth Council of Constantinople is convened to decide about what to do about Patriarch Photius of Constantinople Year 1910 ( MCMX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The Plan of San Luis de Potosí was a political document written in San Antonio, Texas, United States, and published in the Mexican " It declared the Díaz regime illegal and called for revolt against Díaz to overthrow the Porfiriato, starting on November 20. Events 284 - Diocletian was chosen as Roman Emperor. 762 - Bögü Khan of the Uyghurs, Though Madero's letter was not a plan for major socioeconomic revolution, it offered the hope of change for many disadvantaged Mexicans. ^[2]

Madero's vague promises of agrarian reforms attracted many of the peasants throughout Mexico. Agrarian reform can refer either narrowly to government-initiated or government-backed redistribution of Agricultural land (see Land reform) or can refer more broadly He was able to gain much needed support from them in order to remove Díaz from power. With the support of the mostly peasant Indians, Madero's army fought Díaz's army and had some success. Díaz's army gradually lost control of Mexico and his administration started to fall apart. The desire to remove Díaz was so great that many natives and different leaders supported of Madero and fought on his side.

In late 1910, revolutionary movements broke out in response to Madero's letter. Pascual Orozco along with governor Abraham González formed a powerful military union in the north and took Mexicali and Chihuahua City, although they were not especially committed to Madero. Pascual Orozco (in contemporary documents sometimes spelled "Oroszco" ( 28 January 1882 &ndash 30 August 1915) was a Mexican Abraham González Casavantes ( June 7, 1864 &ndash March 7, 1913) was the provisional and constitutional governor of the Mexican Mexicali, is the capital of the Mexican state of Baja California. Chihuahua is the name of both a state in Mexico and that state's capital city These victories encouraged other military and political alliances, including Pancho Villa. Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Against Madero's wishes, Orozco and Villa fought for and won Ciudad Juárez, bordering El Paso, Texas, along the Rio Grande.

After Madero defeated the weak federal army, on May 21, 1911, he signed the Treaty of Ciudad Juárez with Diaz. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year It stated that Díaz would abdicate his rule and be replaced by Madero. Insisting on a new election, Madero won overwhelmingly in late 1911. Some supporters criticized him for appearing weak by not assuming the presidency and failing to pass immediate reforms. But Madero established a liberal democracy and received support from the United States and popular leaders such as Orozco, Villa, and Zapata.

Madero was a weak leader and quickly lost much of his support while in power. He angered both the more radical revolutionists and the conservative counter-revolutionists, including the unpopular Congress elected during Díaz's rule. His refusal to enact land reforms caused a break with Zapata who announced the Plan de Ayala, which called for the return of lands "usurped by the hacendados" (hacienda owners) and demanded an armed conflict against the government. The Plan of Ayala (Spanish Plan de Ayala) was a document drafted by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate usually but not always a vast Ranch. Soon after, Orozco also broke away from Madero's government and rebelled against him. He created his own army of Orozquistas, who were also called the Colorados ("Red Flaggers") after Madero refused to agree to social reforms calling for better working hours, pay, and conditions. The rural working class, who had supported Madero, now took up arms supporting Zapata and Orozco. The people's support for Madero quickly deteriorated.

Madero's time as leader was short lived and came to an end after General Victoriano Huerta set in motion a coup d'état. José Victoriano Huerta Márquez ( Colotlán, Jalisco, December 22, 1850, &ndash January 13, 1916 in El Paso Madero had appointed Huerta as commander-in-chief when he first claimed power, but Huerta had turned against him. Following Huerta’s coup d'état, Madero was forced to resign in 1913. Madero and vice president José María Pino Suárez were both assassinated less than a week later. José María Pino Suárez ( September 8, 1869 &ndash February 22, 1913) was a Mexican Politician, Writer The murder of Madero ruptured the country, but he became honored as a martyr of the revolution.

Victoriano Huerta's reign

Main articles: Victoriano Huerta and La decena trágica

Victoriano Huerta

In early 1913, Victoriano Huerta, who commanded the armed forces, conspired with U.S. Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson, Félix Díaz and Bernardo Reyes, to remove Madero from power. José Victoriano Huerta Márquez ( Colotlán, Jalisco, December 22, 1850, &ndash January 13, 1916 in El Paso This article contains several lists of Ambassadors from the United States. Henry Lane Wilson (1857 &ndash 1932 was an American diplomat. Félix Díaz (1868 &ndash 1945 was a Mexican Politician and General born in Oaxaca Oaxaca. Bernardo Reyes (born in Guadalajara, Mexico, August 1850 &ndash February 3, 1913) was a General in the army of Mexico La decena trágica was an event, in which ten days of sporadic fighting in a faked battle occurred between federal troops led by Huerta and Díaz’s conservative rebel forces. This fighting would stop when Huerta, Félix Díaz, and Henry Lane Wilson met and signed the "Embassy Pact" in which they agreed to conspire against Madero to install Huerta as president.

When Huerta gained power and became president, most powers around the world acknowledged him as the rightful leader. However, incoming-president of the United States Woodrow Wilson refused to recognize Huerta's government. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28 1856—February 3 1924 was the twenty-eighth President of the United States. Henry Lane Wilson was withdrawn as U. S. Ambassador by Woodrow Wilson and his secretary of state William Jennings Bryan, to be replaced by John Lind, a Swedish-American socialist. For other persons of the same name see William Bryan and William Jennings. John Lind ( March 25, 1854 September 18, 1930) was an American Politician. Swedish Americans are Americans of Swedish descent most often related to the large groups of immigrants from Sweden in the late nineteenth century and early Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Bryan, President Wilson, and many Mexicans saw Huerta as an illegal usurper of presidential power in violation of the Constitution of Mexico. The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present Constitution of Mexico.

American forces at Veracruz.

Venustiano Carranza, a politician and rancher from Coahuila, was forefront in the opposition against Huerta, calling his forces the Constitutionalists, with the secret support of the United States. Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of Mexico 's 31 component states. On March 26, 1913, Carranza issued the Plan de Guadalupe, which was a refusal to recognize Huerta as president and called for a declaration of war between the two factions. Events 1026 - Pope John XIX crowns Conrad II as Holy Roman Emperor. Year 1913 ( MCMXIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Plan of Guadalupe (Plan de Guadalupe was a document drafted on March 23, 1913 by Venustiano Carranza in response to the overthrow and execution of Leaders such as Villa, Zapata, Carranza, and Álvaro Obregón led the fighting against Huerta. For other uses including places named after this person see Obregón. In April of 1914, U. S. opposition to Huerta had reached its peak when American forces seized and occupied the port of Veracruz, cutting off arms and money supplies from the German Empire. The United States occupation of the Mexican port of Veracruz lasted for six months in response to the Tampico Affair of April 9, 1914. The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The German Empire is the name commonly used in English to describe Germany from 1871 to 1918 when it was a semi- Constitutional monarchy: beginning with the Unification In late July, this situation worsened for Huerta. He vacated his office and fled to Puerto México. Coatzacoalcos is a major port city in the southern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz, on the Coatzacoalcos River.

Legacy

After Huerta vacated the presidency, he moved to Spain in an attempt to establish a new home. Later he returned to Mexico to try to establish another counter-revolution within the post-revolutionary Mexican state. A counter-revolutionary is anyone who opposes a Revolution, particularly those who act after a revolution to try to overturn or reverse it in full or in part

The German Empire, which favored Huerta while in power, considered him an important factor related to the war breaking out in Europe (World War I). World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All If Huerta could establish himself again as leader of Mexico, which was the German government's goal, the United States would be distracted on its homefront, giving the Germans an advantage in Europe. Huerta moved to the United States where he began to work toward another revolution in Mexico. The German government gave him funding and advice.

The U. S government and Carranza, the newly elected President of Mexico, were worried when Huerta arrived. They set up surveillance to watch Huerta and try to ensure he did not gain entry into Mexico. Surveillance is the monitoring of Behavior. Systems surveillance is the process of monitoring the behavior of people objects or processes within systems for conformity The United States government and Carranza wanted to prevent another counter-revolution. .

Huerta did not survive long enough to re-enter into Mexico. He was stopped at the border in El Paso, Texas, by the United States government and kept there under house arrest. He died in early 1916.

Pancho Villa

Main article: Pancho Villa

General Francisco "Pancho" Villa with his general staff in 1913. Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Villa in grey suit in center, Villa's sidekick, General Rodolfo Fierro at far right. Rodolfo Fierro (b 1880 d October 14, 1915) was a Railway worker railway superintendent federal soldier and Lieutenant in the army of

José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, better known as Francisco "Pancho" Villa, came from the northern state of Durango. Durango (duˈɾaŋgo is one of the constituent States of Mexico. He was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. Villa with his army of Villistas joined the ranks of the Madero movement. He led the Villistas in many battles, such as the attack of Ciudad Juárez in 1911 (which overthrew Porfirio Díaz and gave Madero power), the Battle of Celaya. Ciudad Juárez, also known as just Juárez, is a city in the Mexican state of Chihuahua formerly known as El Paso del Norte. The Battle of Celaya, which occurred near Celaya, Guanajuato on 13 April 1915, was a battle of the Mexican Revolution.

In 1911, Victoriano Huerta appointed Villa his chief military commander. During this period Huerta and Villa became rivals. In 1912 when Villa's men seized a horse and Villa decided to keep it for himself, Huerta ordered Villa’s execution for insubordination. Raúl Madero, brother of the former president, intervened to save Villa's life. Jailed in Mexico City, Villa escaped to the United States. Soon after the assassination of President Madero, Villa returned with a group of companions to fight Huerta. By 1913 the group had become Villa's División del Norte (Northern Division). This army led by Villa had numerous American members. Villa and his army, along with Carranza and Obregón, joined in resistance to the Huerta dictatorship. For other uses including places named after this person see Obregón.

Villa and Carranza had different goals. Because Villa wanted to continue the revolution, he became an enemy of Carranza. After Carranza took control in 1914, Villa and other revolutionaries who opposed him met at what was called the Convention of Aguascalientes. The convention deposed Carranza in favor of Eulalio Gutiérrez. Eulalio Gutiérrez Ortiz ( February 2, 1881 &ndash August 12, 1939) was elected provisional president of Mexico during the In the winter of 1914, Villa and Zapata's troops entered and occupied Mexico City. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico Villa's treatment of Gutiérrez and the citizenry outraged more moderate elements of the population, who forced Villa from the city in early 1915. He was replaced as head of the country by Obregón and Carranza.

Columbus, New México after being attack by Villa.

In 1915, Villa took part in two of the most important battles during the revolution, the two engagements in the Battle of Celaya, on April 6–7 and from April 13–15. The Battle of Celaya, which occurred near Celaya, Guanajuato on 13 April 1915, was a battle of the Mexican Revolution. Obregon defeated Villa in the Battle of Celaya, one of the bloodiest of the revolution. Carranza emerged as the winner of the war and seized power. A short time after, the United States recognized Carranza as president of Mexico. On March 9, 1916, Villa crossed the United States–Mexico border and raided Columbus, New Mexico in a desperate attempt to have the United States intervene and weaken the Carranza administration. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Columbus is a village in Luna County, New Mexico, United States. During this attack, 18 Americans were killed as well as 90 of Villa's men. The United States began to look at Villa as more of a bandit than a revolutionary.

Pressured by Texans to confront Mexican lawlessness, US President Wilson sent General John J. Pershing and 10,000 U. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB ( September 13, 1860 – July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army S. troops on an unsuccessful pursuit to capture Villa. It was known as the Punitive Expedition. The Punitive Expedition (officially known in the United States as the Mexican Expedition) was a Military operation conducted by the United States After nearly a year of fighting local rebels, Pershing was called off and given command of the American Expeditionary Force in World War I. The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF was the United States military force sent to Europe in World War I. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All

In 1920, Obregón finally signed a peace treaty with Villa, who retired from the revolution. In 1923 Villa was assassinated by gunfire while traveling in his car.

Venustiano Carranza (1914-1920)

Main article: Venustiano Carranza

Venustiano Carranza

Venustiano Carranza became president in 1914, after the overthrow of the Huerta government. He was driven out of Mexico City by Villa and Zapata in 1915, but later gained the support of the masses by the development of a program of social and agrarian reform. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico He was elected president of Mexico in 1917. To try to restrain the revolutionary slaughter, Carranza formed the Constitutional Army to try to bring peace by adoption of the majority of rebel social demands into the new constitution. See also Constitutionalists in the Mexican revolution The Constitutional Army (also known as the Constitutionalist Army) was the He reluctantly incorporated most of these demands into the new Constitution of 1917. The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present Constitution of Mexico. The socialist constitution addressed foreign ownership of resources, an organized labor code, the role of the Roman Catholic Church in education, and land reform. Socialism refers to a broad set of economic theories of social organization advocating state or collective ownership and administration of the Means of production and distribution Land reforms (also Agrarian reform, though that can have a broader meaning is an often- controversial alteration in the societal arrangements whereby government

Although his intentions were good, Carranza was not able to stay in power long enough to enforce many of the reforms in the Constitution of 1917. There was greater decentralization of power because of his weakness. He had appointed General Obregón as Minister of War and of the Navy. In 1920, Obregón with other leading generals Plutarco Elías Calles and Adolfo de la Huerta led a revolt against Carranza. Plutarco Elías Calles ( September 25 1877 – October 19 1945) was a Mexican general and politician Felipe Adolfo de la Huerta Marcor ( 26 May 1881 &ndash 9 July 1955) was a Mexican politician and interim President of Mexico Their forces assassinated Carranza on May 21, 1920. Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1920 ( MCMXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display 1920 of the Gregorian calendar

Emiliano Zapata (active 1910-1919)

Main article: Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution. Emiliano Zapata Salazar ( August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in Emiliano Zapata Salazar ( August 8, 1879 – April 10, 1919) was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, which broke out in He is considered one of the outstanding national heroes of Mexico: towns, streets, and housing developments called "Emiliano Zapata" are common across the country. His image has been used on Mexican banknotes. The peso ( sign: $; code: MXN) is the currency of Mexico. The symbol used for the peso is " $ " basically People have long taken different sides on their evaluation of Emiliano Zapata and his followers. Some considered them bandits, but to others they were true revolutionaries who worked for the peasants. Presidents Porfirio Díaz and Venustiano Carranza called Zapata a womanizer, barbarian, terrorist, and a bandit. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico Conservative media nicknamed Zapata "The Attila of the South. "

Peasant and indigenous Mexicans admired Zapata as a practical revolutionary whose populist battle cry "Tierra y Libertad" (Land and Liberty) was elaborated in the Plan de Ayala for land reform. The Plan of Ayala (Spanish Plan de Ayala) was a document drafted by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. He fought for political and economic emancipation of the peasants in Southern Mexico. Zapata was killed in 1919 by General Pablo González and his aide Colonel Jesús Guajardo in an elaborate ambush. Pablo González may refer to Pablo González Garza (1879-1950 Mexican general and Governor of San Luis Potosí Pablo Andrés González Guajardo set up the meeting under the pretext of wanting to defect to Zapata's side. At the meeting, Gonzalez's men assassinated Zapata.

Zapatistas

Zapatista originally referred to a member of the revolutionary guerrilla movement founded about 1910 by Zapata. Guerrilla warfare is the unconventional warfare and combat with which a small group of combatants use mobile tactics (ambushes raids etc His Liberation Army of the South (Ejército Libertador del Sur) fought during the Mexican Revolution for the redistribution of agricultural land. For the modern-day Zapatista army founded in 1983 see Zapatista Army of National Liberation. Land reforms (also Agrarian reform, though that can have a broader meaning is an often- controversial alteration in the societal arrangements whereby government Zapata and his army and allies, including Pancho Villa, fought for agrarian reform in Mexico. Doroteo Arango Arámbula ( June 5 1878 &ndash July 20 1923) better known as Francisco or " Pancho " Villa Specifically they wanted to establish communal land rights for Mexico's indigenous population, which had mostly lost its land to the wealthy elite of European descent. In biological terms a community is a group of interacting Organisms sharing an environment. Land rights are those Property rights that pertain to Real estate land For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States.

The majority of Zapata’s supporters were indigenous peasants from Morelos and surrounding areas. Morelos is one of the constituent States of Mexico. Morelos has an area of about, making it the second-smallest of the country's states But intellectuals from urban areas also joined the Zapatistas and played a significant part in their movement, specifically the structure and communication of the Zapatista ambitions. Zapata had received only a few years of limited education in Morelos. Educated supporters helped express his political aims. The urban intellectuals were known as "city boys" and were predominantly young males. They joined the Zapatistas for many reasons, including curiosity, sympathy, and ambition.

Zapata agreed that intellectuals could work on political strategy, but he had the chief role in proclaiming Zapatista ideology. The city boys also provided medical care, helped promote and instruct supporters in Zapatista ideology, created a plan for agrarian reform, aided in rebuilding villages destroyed by government forces, wrote manifestos, and sent messages from Zapata to other revolutionary leaders. Zapata's compadre Otilio Montaño was one of the most prominent city boys. Before the Revolution, Montaño was a professor. During the Revolution he taught Zapatismo, recruited citizens, and wrote the Plan de Ayala for land reform. The Plan of Ayala (Spanish Plan de Ayala) was a document drafted by revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution. Other well-known city boys were Abraham Martínez, Manuel Palafox, Antonio Díaz Soto y Gama, Pablo Torres Burgos, Gildardo Magaña, Dolores Jiménez y Muro, Enrique Villa, and Genaro Amezcua. Manuel Palafox (born Puebla, 1886 &ndash 1959 was a Mexican politician military and Intellectual. Gildardo Magaña Cerda ( March 7, 1891 - December 13 1939) was a Mexican general politician and revolutionary Colonel Dolores Jiménez y Muro ( June 7, 1848 – October 15, 1925) was a Mexican schoolteacher and revolutionary

Zapatista women

Women that fought alongside Zapata

Many women were involved with and supported the Zapatistas. Since Zapata's political ambitions and campaign were usually local, the women were able to aid the Zapatista soldiers from their homes. There were also female Zapatista soldiers who served from the beginning of the revolution. When Zapata met with President Madero on July 12, 1911, he was accompanied by his troops. Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1911 ( MCMXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Amongst these troops were female soldiers, including officers. Some women also led bandit gangs before and during the Revolution. Women joined the Zapatistas as soldiers for various reasons, including revenge for dead family members or to perform raids. Perhaps the most popular Zapatista female soldier was Margarita Neri, who was a commander. Women fought bravely as Zapatista soldiers and some were killed in battle. Many survivors continued to wear men's clothing and carry pistols long after the Revolution ended. Colonel María de la Luz Espinosa Barrera was one of the few whose service was formally recognized with a pension as a veteran of the Mexican Revolution.

Agrarian land reform

Main article: Agrarian land reform in Mexico

Under the Porfiriato, the rural peasants suffered the most. Before the 1910 Mexican Revolution that overthrew Porfirio Díaz most of the land was owned by a single elite ruling class The regime confiscated large sections of land which resulted in a major loss of land by the agrarian work force. In 1883 a land law was passed which gave ownership of more than 27. 5 million hectares of land to foreign companies. By 1894, one out of every five acres of Mexican land was owned by a foreign interest. Many wealthy families also owned large estates, resulting in landless rural peasants working on the property as virtual slaves. In 1910 at the beginning of the revolution, about one half the rural population lived and worked on such plantations. Plantation was an early method of colonization in which settlers were 'planted' abroad in order to establish a permanent or semi-permanent colonial base

Women in the revolution

Women during the Mexican Revolution (known as soldaderas, adelitas, or coronelas) were held under the shadow of men and occupied the roles of wife and ultimate care givers. Soldaderas were female Soldiers sent into combat along with the men during the Mexican Revolution against the conservative Díaz regime In the cash-strapped armies of Revolution, male soldiers brought their women with them as a matter of course. There was almost no support for duties of mess, quartermaster, and medics), roles filled by women. MESS ( Multi Emulator Super System) is an Emulator for many game consoles and computer systems based on the MAME core Quartermaster refers to two different military occupations In land armies it is a term referring to a military individual or unit who specializes in supplying and provisioning troops Medic is a general term for a person involved in medicine especially emergency or first-response medicine such as an Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic, or The Constitutionalists Army tended to view women in more traditional roles. Constituitionalists were the third faction in the Mexican Revolution consisting of mainly middle-class urbanites liberals and intellectuals who desired a constitution under But some wealthy women such as Colonel Juana Flores, widow of a gold-mine owner, purchased officers' commissions from Carranza.

The 1884 Civil Code restricted women at home and in the workplace. The Code created inequalities amongst women and ethnic minorities who suffered politically, socially, economically and religiously under the Porfirian regime. For decades myths portrayed Mexican women as passive beings who contributed minimally to the Mexican Revolution. Mexican women were in fact active participants in the Mexican Revolution, one of the recognized social uprisings of the twentieth century.

Women's involvement in the revolution had an immense impact on shaping Mexican society during the revolutionary period. Mexican women were essential to the revolution in a number of ways. They were involved in politics, were strong advocates for the causes, and participated in life on the battlefields. The female political figures were probably the most important and influential women in the Mexican Revolution. They were prominent political activists, thinkers, writers, figures, role models, and were fearless in their pursuit of their goals, which often resulted in their being jailed. The Mexican Revolution included many movements focusing on dealing with the urban and middle class societies, whose ascent resulted in a new Revolutionary Constitution in 1917. The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present Constitution of Mexico.

United States' involvement

Main article: United States involvement in the Mexican Revolution

The U. Overview Initially the United States stayed informed about the Mexican Revolution from documents conveyed from the U S. relationship with Mexico has often been turbulent. During the Mexican independence movement, the U. S. assisted the Mexican insurgents in achieving independence, using the Monroe Doctrine as the justification. The Monroe Doctrine is a US doctrine which on December 2 1823 stated that European powers were no longer to colonize or interfere with With the reign of dictators such as Iturbide and Santa Anna, the U. Iturbide may refer to Iturbide (surname House of Iturbide, royal house of Mexico Agustín I of Mexico Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón ( February 21, 1794 &ndash June 21, 1876) often known as Santa S. -Mexico relationship deteriorated. When the liberal president Benito Juárez came to power with his agenda for a democratic Mexican society, President Lincoln personally commended him and sent supplies to help Juárez overthrow emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. Benito Pablo Juárez García (benit̪o paβ̞lo xwaɾes gaɾsia ( March 21, 1806 – July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Amerindian Maximilian I Emperor of Mexico (Emperador Maximiliano I de México (6 July 1832 – 19 June 1867 (born Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph was a member of Austria This support during the US Civil War ended with the upheaval following Lincoln's assassination. After the death of Juarez, Mexico reverted to a totalitarian government under the rule of Porfirio Diaz.

At the turn of the 20th Century, United States owners, including major companies, held about twenty-seven percent of Mexican land. By 1910 American industrial investment was 45 percent, which was why presidents Taft and Wilson decided to intervene in Mexican affairs. For both economic and political reasons, the U. S. government generally supported the man in power(President Wilson did condemn Huerta's murders of Madero and Pino Suarez). Twice during the Revolution, the U. S. sent troops into Mexico. The first time was in 1914, during the Ypiranga incident. When US agents discovered that the German merchant ship Ypiranga was carrying illegal arms to Huerta, President Wilson ordered troops to the port of Veracruz to stop the ship from docking. He did not declare war on Mexico. The U. S. troops then carried out a skirmish against Huerta's forces in Veracruz. The Ypiranga managed to dock at another port, which infuriated Wilson. The ABC Powers arbitrated and U. ABC countries, or ABC Powers, is a term sometimes used to describe the South American countries of Argentina, Brazil and Chile, which S. troops left Mexican soil, but the incident added to already tense U. S. -Mexico relations.

In 1916, in retaliation for Pancho Villa's raid on Columbus, New Mexico, and the death of 16 American citizens, President Wilson sent Brigadier General John J. Pershing into Mexico to capture Villa. Villa was deeply entrenched in the mountains of northern Mexico, and knew the terrain too well to be captured by the U. S. forces. General Pershing was forced to abandon the mission and return to the U. S. This event, however, further damaged the strained U. S. -Mexico relationship and caused Mexico's anti-American sentiment to grow stronger. Some historians believed the United States government invested too much in the Mexican issue and violated its own avowed neutrality.

The Catholic Church during the revolution

See also: Roman Catholicism in Mexico

During the period of 1876 to 1911, relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the Mexican government were stable. The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico is part of the worldwide Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and Curia in Rome The United Mexican States are a federal presidential representative democratic Republic whose government' is Porfirio Díaz had a keen interest in relations with the church since he was worried about the American expansionist threat. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In general expansionism consists of expansionist policies While some have linked the term to promoting Economic growth (in contrast to no growth / Sustainable policies Porfirio Díaz has been quoted as saying:

“Persecution of the Church, whether or not the clergy enter into the matter, means war, and such a war that the Government can win it only against its own people, through the humiliating, despotic, costly and dangerous support of the United States. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican politician ( September 15, 1830 – 2 July 1915) that would later become the president of Mexico Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given Religion. War is an international relations Dispute, characterized by organized Violence between National Military units Without its religion, Mexico is irretrievably lost. A religion is a set of Tenets and practices often centered upon specific Supernatural and moral claims about Reality, the Cosmos ”

However, Porfirio Díaz was not completely supportive of the Catholic Church. Before his own presidency, Diaz had supported the Juarez regime, which implemented anti-clerical policies, such as expropriation of large tracts of Church-owned property.

Youth movement

As the Revolution progressed, the status of the University in relation to it changed several times; each time its students took different positions as well. Under different university directors, different revolutionary ideals were forced upon the student body. In many cases the curriculum would change as well. With each change, however, the importance of youth groups became more crucial. The university’s students made up the bulk of the youth movement, chiefly composed of educated youth. During the Revolution, some viewed students as anti-revolutionary because of the image of the university as a safe haven for the rich and privileged. People engaged in the Revolution urged the university and students to become more involved and to accept the ideals and beliefs of the revolution.

The National University of Mexico was founded by Gabino Barreda, who served as the Secretary of Public Instruction under Porfirio Díaz. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (in Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM) is a Public university based Despite the school's support for higher education for Mexicans, it was continually attacked during the revolution. In 1912 porfiristas and liberals joined in an attempt to suppress the students' influence. The first to organize were the medical students in 1910, the year the revolution began.

The youth movements of the revolution were mainly confined to higher schools and especially the National University of Mexico. The National Autonomous University of Mexico (in Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México UNAM) is a Public university based Young men used art, music, and poetry to speak out on the Revolution and encourage support. The leaders in government often made efforts to suppress such outlets. After the Revolution, new governments in turn gradually tried to suppress the freedoms of the University. By the 1920s, student protests were against the government.

End of the revolution

Historians debate the exact end of the "revolutionary period". From a military standpoint, it ended with the death of the Constitutional Army's primer jefe (First Chief) Venustiano Carranza in 1920, and the ascension to power of General Álvaro Obregón. Constituitionalists were the third faction in the Mexican Revolution consisting of mainly middle-class urbanites liberals and intellectuals who desired a constitution under For other uses including places named after this person see Obregón. Coup attempts and sporadic uprisings continued, for instance in the Cristero Wars of 1926-1929. The Cristero War (also known as the Cristiada of 1926 to 1929 was an uprising and Counter-revolution against the Anti-Catholic Mexican government of the time set

Effective implementation of the social provisions of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico and near cession of revolutionary activity did not occur until the administration of Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940). The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States of 1917 is the present Constitution of Mexico. This article is about Gen Lázaro Cárdenas del Río For his grandson see Lázaro Cárdenas Batel. Cárdenas also abolished capital punishment, better known in Mexico as fusilamiento, death by firing squad. Capital punishment, the death penalty or execution, is the Killing of a person by judicial process as Punishment. Execution by firing squad is a method of Capital punishment, particularly common in times of war Cárdenas and the PRM's ability to control the republic without summary executions showed the revolutionary period was at its end.

Another major step was in 1940, when Cardenas voluntarily relinquished all power to his successor Manuel Ávila Camacho, a legal transition that was unprecedented in Mexican history. Manuel Ávila Camacho ( April 24, 1897 &ndash October 13, 1955) served as the President of Mexico from 1940 to 1946 In 1942, Ávila Camacho and all living ex-Presidents appeared on stage in the Mexico City Zócalo, in front of the Palacio Nacional, to encourage the Mexican people to support the Americans and British in World War II. The Constitutional Citizen President of the United Mexican States (the official title in Spanish is Ciudadano Presidente Constitucional de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico In many cities in Mexico, a zócalo is the main plaza or square set in the heart of the town World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including This demonstration of political solidarity among diverse elements signaled the true end of the Revolution. Given its importance in national history, Mexican politicians and political parties refer frequently to the Revolution in their political rhetoric.

Bibliography

Many portions of this article are translations of excerpts from the article Revolución Mexicana in the Spanish Wikipedia. The Mexican Revolution (Revolución Mexicana was a major armed struggle that started with an uprising led by Francisco I

General

• Britton, John A. Revolution and Ideology Images of the Mexican Revolution in the United States. Louisville: The University Press of Kentucky, 1995.
• Chasteen, John. Born In Blood and Fire: A Concise History of Latin America. New York: W. W. Norton, 2001.
• Cockcroft, James D. Intellectual Precursors of the Mexican Revolution 1900- 1913. Austin: Von Boeckmann-Jones Company, 1968.
• Craven, David. Art and Revolution in Latin America 1910-1990. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2002.
• Doremus, Anne T. Culture, Politics, and National Identity in Mexican Literature and Film, 1929-1952. New York: Peter Lang Publishing Inc. , 2001.
• Documents on the Mexican Revolution Vol. 1 Part 1. ed. Gene Z. Hanrahan. North Carolina: Documentary Publications, 1976
• Foster, David, W. , ed. Mexican Literature A History. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1994.
• Gonzales, Michael J. "The Mexican Revolution: 1910-1940" Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2002.
• Hauss Charles, Smith Miriam, "Comparative Politics", Nelson Thomson Learning, Copyright 2000
• Hoy, Terry. "Octavio Paz: The Search for Mexican Identity. " The Review of Politics 44:3 (July, 1982), 370-385.
• Macias, Anna. "Women and the Mexican Revolution, 1910-1920. " The Americas, 37:1 (Jul. , 1980), 53-82.
• Mora, Carl J. , Mexican Cinema: Reflections of a Society 1896-2004. Berkeley: University of California Press, 3rd edition, 2005
• Meyer, Jean A. The Cristero Rebellion. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1976, pp. 10-15
• Myers, Berbard S. Mexican Painting in Our Time. New York: Oxford University Press, 1956.
• Orellana, Margarita de, Filming Pancho Villa: How Hollywood Shaped the Mexican Revolution: North American Cinema and Mexico, 1911-1917. New York: Verso, 2007
• Paranagua, Paula Antonio. Mexican Cinema. London: British Film Institute, 1995.
• Quirk, Robert E. The Mexican Revolution and the Catholic Church 1910-1919. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1973, pp. 1-249
• Reséndez Fuentes, Andrés. "Battleground Women: Soldaderas and Female Soldiers in the Mexican Revolution. " The Americas 51, 4 (April 1995).
• Smith, Robert Freeman. The United States and Revolutionary Nationalism in Mexico 1916-1932. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1972
• Soto, Shirlene Ann. Emergence of the Modern Mexican Woman. Denver: Arden Press, 1990.
• Swanson, Julia. "Murder in Mexico. " History Today, June 2004. Vol. 54, Issue 6; p 38-45
• Turner, Frederick C. "The Compatibility of Church and State in Mexico. " Journal of Inter-American Studies, Vol 9, No 4, 1967, pp. 591-602
• Weinstock, Herbert. "Carlos Chavez. " The Musical Quarterly 22:4 (Oct. , 1936), 435-445.

Online

See also

• History of Mexico
• List of Combatants in the Mexican Revolution
• List of revolutions and rebellions
• List of wars by death toll

References

External links

• Markus Iturriaga, Emiliano Zapata Father of the Zapatista Movement, in The War of Ink and Internet: The Zapatista Rebels in Mexico and the Electronic Revolution, self-published on the site of the University of Tennessee Department of Computer Science
• U.S. Library of Congress Country Study: Mexico
• Stephanie Creed, Kelcie McLaughlin, Christina Miller, Vince Struble, Mexican Revolution 1910-1920, Latin American Revolutions, course material for History 328, Truman State University (Missouri)
• Mexico: From Empire to Revolution, photographs and commentary on the site of the J. Paul Getty Trust
• Mexican Revolution of 1910 and Its Legacy, latinoartcommunity. org
• Soldiers of Fortune Postcards: Postcards of the Mexican Revolution
• Women and the Mexican Revolution on the site of the University of Arizona
• Harry M. Cleaver, Jr. , Zapatistas in cyberspace, University of Texas

• History @ 33 1/3: Audio Interview with Alan Knight on the Mexican Revolution [11]