Entering the World Stage

Entering the World Stage 17.4 Wilson and the Mexican Revolution

Focus Your Thoughts . . . • What is a dictatorship? • Why would a revolution in Mexico draw the United States into conflict? • Hint: Think about this in terms of ‘spheres of influence’ within a global community

The Diaz Dictatorship • For most of the period from 1877 – 1910, a man named Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico • When Diaz came to power, he brought order to Mexico, which had endured decades of war and unrest; however, order came at a price • Diaz jailed his opponents • Diaz did not permit freedom of the press • Diaz used his army to maintain ‘peace’ at any cost • Thanks to the contributions of foreign investors (esp. the United States), Diaz was able to modernize Mexico very quickly • Most Mexicans continued to live in poverty and opposition grew Porfirio Diaz

Overthrowing Diaz • In 1910, Diaz ran for re-election; as in earlier elections, Diaz controlled the outcomeand just before voting began, he jailed his opponent Francisco Madero • When the votes had been counted, Diaz claimed he had earned over a million votes and Madero a mere two hundred • Madero was released from prison in September of 1910 and fled across the border to Texas where he declared himself the President of Mexico and called for a revolution • When Madero returned to Mexico in November, he found bands of rebels at the ready Francisco Madero

Shaky Leadership • In November of 1911, Madero was elected President of Mexico • He tried to set up a democratic government, but was quickly overwhelmed by the very forces he had unleashed in toppling Diaz • In 1913, Victoriano Huerta, the commander of the government troops, overthrew Madero, imprisoned him, and had him executed soon after • Huerta named himself President; but four armies immediately rose up to fight him Victoriano Huerta

The U.S. Intervenes • Many European nations recognized Huerta’s government, but the United States did not • Wilson viewed him as an assassin with no claim to power • In February of 1914, he authorized the sale of weapons to Huerta’s enemies • He adopted a policy of “watchful waiting” Woodrow Wilson

The Tampico Incident • On April 9, 1914, nine crew members of the USS Dolphin went ashore for supplies in the Mexican port of Tampico • There, they were arrested by soldiers loyal to Huerta; the Americans were quickly released unharmed and the Mexicans apologized • U.S. Admiral Henry Mayo demanded more; he wanted Huerta to give the American flag a twenty-one gun salute within twenty-four hours; Huerta refused • On April 20th, the President asked Congress’s permission to use armed forces in Mexico • Congress approved the request on April 22nd

Occupying Veracruz • Before Congress had even approved his request to send in troops, Wilson heard some alarming news – a German ship was headed to the city of Veracruz with a large supply of weapons for Huerta • Without hesitation, Wilson ordered the U.S. Navy to seize the city • The Battle of Veracruz • U.S. marines land at Veracruz expecting an easy victory; the Mexicans open fire • Seventeen Americans and over 300 Mexicans died • After the Battle • U.S. troops occupied the city for the next six months • The occupation threatened to plunge The United States and America into war, but mediation by Argentina, Brazil, and Chile prevented it • In June, mediators called for Huerta’s resignation and for the creation of a provisional government; Huerta refused, but as pressure mounted, he resigned and fled to Spain

The Revolution Concludes • With Huerta gone from Mexico, Venustiano Carranza stepped in and declared himself the leader of the Mexican Revolution • He faced opposition from Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata; for some time, it appeared they would win • This concerned American leaders, who feared U.S. economic interested would be harmed • Wilson sided with Carranza, causing Villa to retaliate Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa

Pursuing Pancho Villa • In March of 1916, Villa led hundreds of troops across the U.S. border to Columbus, New Mexico • Striking at dawn, he burned the town and killed seventeen Americans • President Wilson quickly ordered a military expedition to hunt down Villa; within a week, we had ten thousand troops in Mexico • We searched for eleven months, but never found Pancho Villa . . . the farther we went into Mexico, the more the Mexicans resented us • Fearing war with Mexico at a time when the rest of the world was already involved in World War I, we called off our search for Villa and pulled our troops out of Mexico

A New Constitution • In 1916, Carranza called a Constitutional convention • In February of 1917, a new Constitution went into place • Contained the ideas of all the revolutionary groups • Protected the liberties and rights of citizens • Despite the new Constitution, fighting in Mexico continued until 1920, destroying the Mexican economy and increasing immigration to the United States

Entering the World Stage