A Different View of Mexico Presenter: Carroll Williams

1. A Different View of Mexico Presenter: Carroll Williams

2. My goal is to introduce you to a different world view held by our neighbors to the south.

3. Every culture possesses social memory: Long term historical memory - a nation’s recorded and shared heritage 2. Short term cultural memory based upon a person’s life experiences

4. Some Comparisons When Columbus opened up the Western Hemisphere to Europe in 1492: What is now the USA held about 600,000 native people scattered in small villages. Mexico and Central America held about 25 million people and had a number of very large cities with imposing architecture and advanced engineering features. Mexico today has a culture that grew from a much larger indigenous population than was the case in the USA.

5. Mexico has a culture that is much older than the USA Olmec culture in Veracruz dates from around 2000 BC Mayan culture in Yucatan dates from around 2000 BC Zapotec culture in Oaxaca dates from around 500 BC Toltec culture in Hidalgo dates from around 800 AD Aztec culture in Central Mexico dates from around 1300 AD Aztecs migrated from Aztlan southward Aztecs lived among the Toltecs and learned from them

6. Olmec stone head approximately 2500 years old - Veracruz

7. Mayan culture began in Mexico at approximately the same time the Minoan culture began on the Island of Crete. This Mayan palace is certainly equal to or superior to the palace at Cnossus on Crete, both of which date from the bronze age.

8. Mayan architecture is some of the finest in the ancient world.

9. One of my students from Arapahoe Community College in Colorado. This photo was taken around 1972 during an expedition to ancient sites in the state of Oaxaca. This is at Mitla which along with Yagul and Monte Alban in Oaxaca were built by the Zapotec culture around 2,500 years ago.

10. Carroll Williams at Tula in the state of Hidalgo. These giant stone warriors once held up the roof of a temple. The Toltec built this place In the 9th century AD

11. Teotihuacan was possibly the largest city on earth in its prime with an estimated population of over 125,000. It was occupied between 100 BC and 250 AD, but was deserted well before the Spanish arrived in 1519. Why it was abandoned remains a mystery.

12. Mexico’s long term historical memory begins with its Indian roots and continues with its European chapter • The Spanish Conquest • Discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus 1492 • Line of Demarcation 1492 by Pope Alexander VI • Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 between Portugal and Spain

13. Hernan Cortes’ Conquest of Mexico in 1522 was accomplished using many Indian allies. Cuitlahauc Cuauhtémoc Hernan Cortes Moctezuma II Heroes of Indian Resistance Incredibly Bold Indecisive

14. Mexican Independence 1810 – 1821 Father Miguel Hidalgo and the church at Dolores Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Independence the night of Sept. 15/16th 1810 with “El Grito” The Church at Dolores where Father Hidalgo summoned his parishioners around midnight.

15. Texas buffer zone 1828 - 1836 Anglo Americans were required to integrate fully as Mexicans Antonio Lópezde Santa Anna, President of Mexico Texas War for Independence 1836 over the issue of Federalism vs. Centralism

16. Antonio Lópezde Santa Anna known as the Hero of Tampico for expelling the Spanish in 1829. In Texas history he is known as “The butcher of the Alamo.” As a captive of the Texas rebels Santa Anna traveled to Washington. While on the journey he dined with General Winfield Scott in a tavern In Maryland. The two would later meet In battle during the War with Mexico 1846 – 1848.

17. War with the USA 1846 – 1848 started with a border dispute - Nueces River vs. Rio Grande In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848 Mexico lost 53% of its territory to the U.S.

18. 1855 Santa Anna was exiled 1857 A New Liberal Constitution adopted for Mexico 1857 – 1861 The War of the Reform led by Benito Pablo Juárez 1862 - 1867 Maximillian von Hapsburg was sent by Napoleon III to rule Mexico 1862 – 1867 Benito Pablo Juárez carried out a war of national liberation against Maximillian and his French supporters.

19. Juarez' birthday celebration in Alameda Park in Mexico City in 1972, on the centennial of his death. President Benito Pablo Juárez a Zapotec Indian 1806 – 1872

20. 1876 - 1911 Porfirio Diaz ruled as a virtual dictator Rapid growth with foreign investments in mining and transportation but stagnation and poverty for the common people 1910 to 1921 Mexican Revolution led to conflict with the United States A New Constitution in 1917

21. 1914 Tampico Incident and the invasion of Veracruz by the USA – ordered by President Woodrow Wilson American invasion fleet at Veracruz U.S. Navy Battleship Arkansas took part in the invasion of Veracruz. American Sailors manned machine guns in the streets. Many Mexicans were killed in the seizure of Veracruz.

22. Anti-American riots broke out in Mexico Mexican Revolutionaries exiled in the USA Propaganda and gun running in support of the Revolution

23. 1916 Pancho Villa burned Columbus NM. President Wilson ordered the invasion of Mexico by the US Army. The invasion force was commanded by General John J. Pershing shown on the right during a meeting under a flag of truce.

24. With my friend Mrs. Luz Corral Villa the widow of Francisco “Pancho” Villa at her home in Chihuahua, Mexico 1972

25. Germany carried out unrestricted submarine warfare against Britain In 1917 and feared the U.S would enter World War I. The Zimmerman Telegram, January 1917 German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman sent a proposal to the German Ambassador in Mexico inviting Mexico to make war on the United States. The message was intercepted by the British who made it public. Would Mexico have joined with Germany in a war against the U.S.? Anti-American resentment in Mexico was very high.

26. Nationalization of the Oil Industry by Pres. Lázaro Cárdenas • over a labor dispute. Pemex was formed, and oil sold to • Italy, Germany, and Japan in the early stages of WW II. • Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho and • U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt settled the oil dispute. • The oil industry was compensated by Mexico and oil was • once again sold to the U.S. and its WW II Allies.

27. Japan threatened to invade Mexico in WW II Mexico sided with the U.S. against Japan in WW II. The Mexican Air Force Aztec Eagles flew fighter plane missions in support of U.S. troops in the Philippines.

28. U.S. welcomed Mexican farm workers during WWII • Border Industries Program encouraged • by USA during the 1960’s and 70’s • Mexico was very protective before NAFTA

29. Mexico is an integral part of North American economy - autos - transport - oil • Mexico is the third largest trading partner of the USA and a net importer • Massive currency transfers to Mexico from workers in USA and drug traffic • Mexico Population 112 million - Mexico has 47 million employed • 42% of the total population are working with 5.6% unemployment rate • US Population 312 million - USA has 140 million employed • 44% of the total population are working with 8.3% unemployment • Mexico has a GDP of over 1 Trillion Dollars with growth rate of 5.5% • - USA has a GDP of 14 Trillion Dollars with a growth rate of 1.7 %

30. National Autonomous University of Mexico or UNAM was founded in 1551: 56 years before the first English Colony in North America 85 years before the founding of Harvard in 1636 Mexico had a full century of colonial growth and development before the first Englishman got off the boat on our shores. • Mexico’s Art, Science, Literature, and Music are all on a par with Europe and USA • Most Mexican States have outstanding Universities, Colleges, and Tech Schools • National Polytechnic Institute has over 150,000 students on all campuses

31. Mexicans remember the Treaty of 1848 and the loss of over half of their country to the U.S.A. They also remember that the U.S.A. invaded Mexico three times.

32. Many Mexicans feel they have a moral right • to come to the USA to work. • About a third of the USA is former Mexican territory. • There are an estimated 10 to 20 million undocumented • people in the USA mostly from Latin America • and most of these are from Mexico. • How we deal with the issue of undocumented • immigration is yet to be decided. • The U.S. is today for all practical purposes • a bi-lingual country.

33. Palace of Fine Arts to the left, and Tower of the Americas in downtown Mexico City.

34. Alondra de la Parra talks about her music and her album “My Mexican Soul.”

35. UNAM - The National Autonomous University of Mexico with a view of Volcanoes Iztaccihuatl (the sleeping lady - left) and Popocatepetl (right)

36. The Annual Mariachi Festival at the Degollado Theater in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 2011

37. For more information visit: conwaypages.com click on “Commentary and Essays” and follow the link to “The Mexican World View” or click on “Travel and Adventure” and follow the link to “Adventures in Mexico”

38. End - Fin