Mexico in the 19 th and 20 th Century

1. Mexico in the 19th and 20th Century

2. Aztecscalled themselves Mexica Tenochtitlan Marketplace by Diego Rivera Mountains and lake provide natural defense of city 1345 Aztecs built Tenochtitlan at Lake Texcoco Snake on cloth represents Quetzalcoatl- goddess of creation The city was an important religious center filled with pyramids topped with temples What raw materials would be used to create mats? Petates, or mats, were woven out of reed Importance of family as mother carries child in rebozo Slave laborer is identified by simple loin cloth Moctezuma II 1502

3. Conquest by Jose Orozco Spanish Conquest Hernan Cortes 1519 Aztecs surrender 1521 Winged angel shows partnership of Church and Cortes Fire in background represents widespread destruction of Spanish soldiers and smallpox. Cortes is carrying an iron sword – resting on dismembered bodies of Aztec victim Aztecs had no metal to match iron’s strength What is this? Cortes is a machine… symbolic of European technology Small pox decimated Aztecs

4. Brutal labor of gold mines Colonial Domination by Diego Rivera Cross, Spanish flag and sword represent colonization Yoked to plow Cuauhtemoc, last Aztec emperor, bowing to conquistadors Huge land grants given to Spanish - encomiendas Conquistadores use branding iron to brand Indian slave Total Indian population fell from 25 million to 1 million by 1700 Rivera attempted to summarize 300 years Describe the European faces… Bag of gold Euro faces drawn as animals

5. Fight for Liberty by Jose Orozco Mexican Independence 1810-1821 Father Hidalgo (killed 1811) against Spanish rule Criollos – Spanish descent Color red – death and violence Priest’s collar and cross – role of Church in rebellion Masses of people – popularity of independence movement among Indians and mestizos. Hidalgo and Father Morelos both executed during war by Mexican creoles (Spanish decedents) Creole Agustin Iturbide then lead independence from Spain, but without reforms of masses What do you think a fiery machete represents? Machete is symbol of agriculture and fire is revolt.

6. Presidente Santa Anna After Santa Anna’s defeat in Texas he to Mexico. Formed a new Catholic, centralist, conservative government. Dissolved the Congress and began centralizing power. The regime became a dictatorship backed by the military. Exiled to Cuba and Jamaica. Eventually settled in Staten Island, NY and later died in Mexico City.

7. Liberalism Emerges in Late 19thc • Benito Juarez elected president in 1858 • confiscated Church property • suspended payment of foreign debt in 1861. • France, Great Britain, & Spain protest

8. French occupy Mexico • The French occupy Mexico in 1861 and capture Mexico City in 1863. • Louis Napoleon makes Archduke Maximillian Emperor (April 10, 1864) • Maximillian was Austrian and never understood Mexico • There were many revolts • Maximillian is captured and executed with the rest of his family. • Juarez is restored.

9. Juarez 1831-1872 and the Fall of the Empire by Jose Orozco Juarez - Zapotec Indian - first to bring legitimate reforms to Mexico Mexican flag – patriotism of middleclass Machetes in hands of peasants Violent colors Juarez leadership came against European intrusion from Spain and France Control of Church 1855 – overthrew dictator Santa Anna, began reforms 1862 – Mexico conquered by France (Napoleon III). Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of Mexico. Cinco de Mayo = Mexican victory, though French eventually won war. 1867- Juarez conquered Mexico City and executed Maximillian Then continued his reforms until his death in 1872

10. Causes of Mexican Revolution • Reign of Porfirio Díaz • Ruled as a dictator • “New Creoles” • Modernized Mexico • Masses suppressed • Working class wages declined • 95% of rural population did not own any land • Mestizo population grew rapidly after 1850 Porfirio Díaz (1876-1910)

11. Repression – History and Perspective of Mexico Repression during rule of Porfirio Diaz (34 year rule) 1876 Diaz came to power – dictator for 34 years. Welcomed foreign investors Government forces on horse heavily loaded with weapons Police enforced Diaz’ laws Sickle represents farm workers Note force used to control farmers (land fell into hands of huge hacienda owners).

12. The Porfiriato • Foreign/Mexican owners discriminated against Mexican Workers & Mexican Middle Class • Did nothing for poorest Mestizos • Neglected Education • Confiscated ejidos (common land)

13. Revolution against Porfirian (Porfirio Diaz) Dictatorship 1911 unseated Diaz Peasants lost lands and were forced to work on large haciendas for little wage – conditions near slavery Government forces used to coerce the farm hands to work. Peasants responded by rebelling against government.

14. Madero, Zapata, and Villa

15. Caudillo Threads of Revolution • Emiliano Zapata – organized peasants from southern Mexico • “Land and Liberty” • Francisco “Pancho” Villa - organized peasants from northern Mexico • Understood new technology (machine guns) & role of media better than most • Villa raids New Mexico Farm on March 9, 1916. • Impacts the reaction to the Zimmerman Telegram

16. The Trenchby Jose Orozco Mexican Revolution By 1910,dissatisfaction of Diaz regime lead to open revolt. “Viva la Revolucion” Red – violent and bloody nature of 10-year long revolution Three soldiers mirroring the Christian Trinity, add religious element to the movement Sharp angles of bodies inject drama The carbines and rifle reinforce the atmosphere of revolution

17. Mexican Constitution of 1917 • Ratified on January 31, 1917 • Conferred strong powers to the president • Laid basis for land reform • No major redistribution until 1934 • Government ownership of mineral &d water resources • Placed restrictions on the church and clergy • New labor laws • Universal suffrage • Restrictions on Foreign Ownership • 8 hour day • Minimum wage • Agrarian reform

18. Land Distribution by Diego Rivera Nation Culture changed as Zapata and Madero became heroes. 1910 – 2% owned land 1940 – 33% owned land (President Lazaro Cardenas) Most tangible result of revolution was the redistribution of hacienda land to landless 1917 Constitution guaranteed lands and factory workers protection

19. Aftermath • Alvaro Obregón (1920-1924) • Built schools and encouraged nationalism • Diego Rivera • Mexico becomes a single-party system • Party of Revolutionary Institutions (PRI) • Dominated politics until 2000 • Lázaro Cárdenas (1934-1940) • Redistributed 45 million acres of land • 253 million would be redistributed by 1984 • Promoted economic nationalism • Nationalized railroads (1937) and oil (1938)

20. Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park by Diego Rivera showing aunified Mexican society