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The Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution. Part I: Background and Causes. Venustiano Carranza 37 th President of Mexico 1914-20. Porfirio Diaz 29 th President of Mexico 1884-1911. Victoriano Huerta 35 th President of Mexico Feb 1913-July 1914. Francisco Madero 33 rd President of Mexico 1911-1913.

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The Mexican Revolution

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  1. The Mexican Revolution Part I: Background and Causes

  2. Venustiano Carranza37th President of Mexico 1914-20

  3. Porfirio Diaz29th President of Mexico 1884-1911

  4. Victoriano Huerta35th President of Mexico Feb 1913-July 1914

  5. Francisco Madero33rd President of Mexico 1911-1913

  6. Alvaro Obregon39th President of Mexico 1920-1924

  7. Francisco “Pancho” VillaMost prominent Revolutionary GeneralAssassinated July 20, 1923

  8. Emiliano ZapataLeader of the peasant revolutionAssassinated on April 10, 1919

  9. Background of Mexico • Great civilizations: Mayas, Olmecs, Toltecs and the wealthy Aztec empire. • Conquered in 1521 by Hernando Cortes. • Spain ruled Mexico as a viceroyalty for 300 years. • Sept 16, 1810 the first Mexican revolution • Independence was finally achieved in 1821.

  10. Background Continued… • From 1821-1877 there were two emperors, several dictators and at least 50 presidents. • There was a new government on the average of every 9 months! • Lost territory in war with U.S (1846-48) • French invasion of Mexico in 1861, Benito Juarez overthrew French government and became president in 1867.

  11. Porfiriato Diaz Regime • Came to power in 1876 and ruled for 35 years. • Gained support from the military and caudillos (military/political leaders) • Relied on the guardiasrurales (rural police) to maintain authority.

  12. Causes of the Revolution: Social • Land reform: fewer than 1,000 families owned half of the country’s best land. • Land ownership concentrated in the hands of the wealthy Mexican elite. • 3 million or 96% of the farmers did not own the land on which they lived and worked.

  13. Causes of the Revolution: Social • There was a huge gap between the rich and poor and little chance for upward mobility (once you were poor, you stayed that way!) • Little to no middle class because of the Hacienda system (large estates) • Recession in 1907-hit farms especially hard • Famine of 1908-09 caused crops to fail, leading to food riots. • Shows the instability of society and the growing dissatisfaction with Diaz.

  14. Causes of the Revolution: Social/Economic • Unpopular local leaders (jefe politicos) fostered unrest and resentment toward the government. • Living conditions continued regressed to the point that in 1900, 29% of all male children died within the first year. • Only ¼ of the population was literate. • Labor protests/strikes began in 1906-08-over wages, lack of land ownership and the poor economy in general.

  15. Causes of the Revolution: Economic • Diaz encouraged foreign investment heavily. • 90% of the incorporated value of Mexican industry was held by foreign investors by 1900. • Between 1908-09 the silver market crashed causing the demise of the mining industry in Mexico. • Mexican sugar industry fell apart because of U.S tariffs placed on Mexican sugar (to protect U.S. interests in Cuba)

  16. Causes of the Revolution: Political • Diaz was interested in supporting the Mexican elite • Neglected the rural population and poorly distributed the land. • Poor working class lost many ways of making money • Censorship of the media to protect the Diaz regime

  17. U.S Involvement • In the outbreak/development: 80% of all foreign investments came from the U.S. The U.S controlled the Mexican economy. • Motivations: “Informal Imperialism” U.S corporations were alarmed with the Diaz regime • Methods of Intervention: U.S military interventions would safeguard interests. • U.S Ambassador to Mexico helped plot a coup to overthrow Madero and installed Victoriano Huerta. • Known as la decenatragica

  18. U.S Involvement • President Woodrow Wilson issued a series of directives, including the Tampico Affair. • U.S. sailors were arrested and Wilson demanded their return to U.S soil • Pancho Villa raided Columbus NM and other boarder attacks-Wilson sent in General John J. Pershing to capture Villa, but only managed to destabilize his forces after 11 months. • WWI: from 1914-1918 and U.S troops were withdrawn from Mexico in 1917

  19. Conclusions • Dictatorship-like rule of Porfirio Diaz for over 30 years. • Exploitation and poor treatment of workers • Great disparity between rich and poor-including the ownership of land. • Mexican Revolution officially began on November 20, 1910 as Diaz is overthrown.

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