Porfirio

1. Porfirio Diaz Brooke Robbins Cara Rano

2. Biography • Inspired by revolutionary soldier tales and set out to join national guard in 1848, but was too late. • After this, he began to study law • Refused to vote for dictator, Santa Anna, and sided with revolutionists • Ordered to be arrested, but he became one of the leading spirits in the “War of Reform” • When the French invasion occurred, Diaz showed his extreme opposition to foreign invasion • They successfully defeated the French, and Diaz went into retirement after being recognized as a strong military leader • Came out of retirement to win presidency against Lerdo

3. Diaz’s presidency marks a prominent change in the history of Mexico • Forged ahead with political and financial reform • Cautious settlements of all national debts • Bringing the people together (there were many different tribes) • Establishment of railroads and telegraphs • Before Diaz, Mexico had had 52 dictators, presidents, and rulers in 59 years.

4. Mexican Revolution • This was brought on by disagreements over the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz • He stayed in office for 31 years • Power was concentrated in the hand of a select few, as well as wealth. • There was a lot of injustice under his rule

5. Diaz told the country they were ready for democracy, but during elections he used his connections to remain in power no matter what. • Madero = strong believer that Diaz should not be able to go up for re-election • Diaz put Madero in jail, but Madero fled to the U.S. • Madero spread his ideas through Mexico, and refused to recognize Diaz as president

6. Land Redistribution • Most land was owned by a single elite ruling class • People with heavy debts were “slaves” to landowners, although slavery was technically illegal • Under his rule, small revolts were common because the small percent of the elite owned a large percent of the land

7. Foreign Dominationof the Economy • He considered Mexico as a democracy, but had enough connections to reassure his leadership in every election. • The common people weren’t very important, only the elite people who owned the land. • He didn’t like any idea of foreign intervention within his country.

8. Lack of Democracy • Although Diaz stated that Mexico was a democracy, an elite few still controlled the country. • Diaz was sure to win every election through his connections and influence unless there was a revolution.

9. Economic Crisis of 1907 • Banks were forced into insolvency • The country’s already withering import capacity decreased even more • Poor year of harvest (meager supply of maize produced) led to a consumer goods shortage • Increasing unemployment

10. Copper mine workers went on strike in 1906, then in 1907 textile workers went on strike • Diaz’s Opinion: the Economic Crisis of 1907 was not due to his choices economically with prices of goods and foreign trade relations, it was due to the bank crisis in the US and a poor harvest which were both beyond his control

11. Mexican Constitution • Article 3: • Free public education • Separated religion and public education • Article 27: • Mexico owns all Mexican lands (this disregarded the US preexisting ownership of land in the country) • Government had right to expropriate without citizen consensus • Acts passed after 1856 Land Law were invalid

12. Article 123: • Labor laws for citizens 10 years old and over • 8 hour work day for all other citizens • Gender and racial equality in the workplace (primarily with wages) • Wages should be paid with actual money, not vouchers • Workers have the right to strike if the cause is reasonable • Article 130: • Government cannot establish national religion • Divorce is legal • Church owning property was now limited • “Ministers” could only be Mexican-born

13. The Mexican Constitution seemed like it addressed the nation’s problems at the time • However, actually caused more problems • Failed to Address: • System of running government • Bill of Rights (drafters of constitution could not decide on rights so they were simply left out) • Guaranteed land to citizens • Right and ability to vote • Ways of industrialization • Villa and Zapata thought the Constitution was pointless

14. Diaz’s Goals • His main goal was to make Mexico as appealing as possible, he wanted many foreign investors to come in to make the rich richer, but at the same time the poor would get poorer. • Diaz didn’t seem very concerned with the problems of the poor, he cared for the people higher in society

15. Diaz’s Achievements • The finances of Mexico were stabilized under his rule • The economy began to develop, which was well overdue • Created a good relation between the U.S. and Mexico, which also helped the economy

16. Diaz’s Successes • Foreign investments acted as a huge pillar that helped Diaz remain in power for as long as he did • Good relations were developed between Mexico and the United States due to the US foreign influence on Mexican economy • For a while resistance of the villages decreased due to the development of capitalism in Mexico

17. Diaz’s Failures • All the land and wealth was distributed among a select few, rather than the whole country • Unfair expropriation of land caused revolts • Not allowing for much upward social mobility caused division among the people • Foreign influence angered citizens who were not allowed to be economically involved • People were discontent with his leadership and many of his decisions made him unpopular with the middle class, which led to political losses and the Mexican Revolution

18. Summary of Assigned Reading “THE NORTHERN DIVISION” -The peasants were trying to overthrow Huerta, who overthrew Madero, who overthrew Diaz -The Northern Division was a revolutionary group of peasant soldiers led by Villa. -Carranza favored the Northwest Army, led under Obregon

19. Carranza refused to recognized Villa’s division as an army • Conflict was stirred by Carranza’s refusal to recognize Villa’s division. • Villa’s division was most successful in trying to overthrow Huerta, but Carranza did things to stop them so that the Northwest Army could get to Mexico City first.

20. The alliance between Villism and Zapatism (from the south) was becoming close, and Carranza feared this. • Villa = able to relate to the peasants and inspire them because he was on the same level as them in society • Obregon = couldn’t inspire troops the same way as Villa because he was higher up in society, however he was still successful

21. Carranza did everything he could in order to beat Villa to Mexico city, as well as prevent the linkup between Villa and Zapata • Although the overthrow of Huerta was a success, new problems were already developing among the revolutionaries.

22. Question: How important were economic grievances in causing the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910, and to what extent were these grievances solved by the Constitution of 1917?

23. Answer: The economic grievances were extremely important in causing the Mexican Revolution because the citizens revolted due to the poor economic situation which angered the middle class because they could not move up in the social standing. Expropriation affected citizens economically and many were dissatisfied with the effect. The Constitution of 1917 did not solve many of these economic grievances, and rather it created even more problems.

24. Citations • Barbara A. Tenenbaum. (1997). Porifirio Diaz. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from Web Site: http://revolutions.truman.edu/mexico/pdiaz.asp • Bethell, Leslie. (1991). Mexico Since Independence. New York: Cambridge University Press. • Soylent Communications. (2009). Porfirio Diaz. Retrieved October 3, 2009, from NNDB Tracking the Entire World Web Site: http://www.nndb.com/people/504/000097213/ • (2007). Porfirio Diaz- From Military Hero to Dictator. Retrieved October 4, 2009, from Mexonline.com Web Site: http://www.mexonline.com/history- porfiriodiaz.htm