mexican revolution- causes and effects
The two major causes of the Mexican Revolution included political and economic struggles throughout Mexican society. By 1910, the dictator Porfirio Diaz had ruled Mexico under omnipotent power for almost 35 years. Diaz had implemented economic reforms, which encouraged and invited foreign investors to industrialize in the country as well as letting wealthy landowners buy up Indian lands. Such interests of these invaders were railroad building, oil, and developing mines. The rich prospered from this however most Mexicans continued in grinding poverty. Most people were peasants who were often reaped from their land and were forced to provide cheap labor. By the 20th century, the peasants demand for land was high however; the government diminished this demand. This caused separation leading to two separate classes, the rich and the poor. Diaz only significantly cared about the rich and neglected to even think twice about the poor. These two classes affected the suffering economy in which the rich got richer, and the poor got poorer. This angered the peasants and opposition towards Diaz was growing immensely. Also infuriated with Diaz, Francisco Madero a liberal reformer, demanded free elections and ran against Porfirio Diaz to try to usurp his political power. Because of this, Diaz imprisoned Madero because Diaz saw Madero’s plan to urge democracy and threaten his further rule over Mexico. This caused Diaz to affirm himself as leader of Mexico once more. Following Madero’s imprisonment, he hoisted the flag of revolt in which revolutionaries all across Mexico joined Madero. Madero formulated the Plan of San Luis Potosi on November 20, which called for the destruction of Diaz’s presidency and the re-institution of democracy through violent direct action on the part of Mexico. This was one of the most influential causes of the Revolution. It demanded people to rise against arms and take charge that led to the regime and the maxim of the revolt, “Effective Suffrage- No Re-election!” During the power struggle ahead, many radical leaders emerged. Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata are two prime figures that helped in the effort to overthrow the government. Poncho Villa fought mostly for his own power but won the intense loyalty of his peasant followers while Emiliano Zapata led a peasant revolt by becoming the General of the Army of the South. In May 1911, in the battle of Ciudad Juarez, Madero overthrew Diaz with the help and support of the fellow peasants. Victoriano Huerta, a conservative, was elected president of Mexico. That same year, Carranza established a new constitution that would soon be called the Constitution of 1917. The amendments imbedded in this constitution are still in force today. This constitution was an extensive effect of the revolution. It addressed three major points that are land, religion, and labor. The major effects of this constitution were that it favored the breakup of large estates, made restrictions on foreigners owning land, and allowed government takeover of natural resources. It chartered a minimum wage for workers and protected their right to strike. Even though the constitution gave suffrage only to men, it did allow some protection for women and provided them with the same pay in jobs as the men. Carranza entitled for women to have equal authority with men in spending family funds and to take part in legal suits because of the pressures of the women activists. Another effect of the revolution was social change. In the 1920s, the government finally began to carry out reforms. This supported labor unions and launched a massive effort to combat illiteracy. Libraries and schools were built and set up which gave Mexicans hope because for the first time, Mexicans in rural areas ultimately were given the chance to learn their native language. With this, the Mexican government became more of a democracy rather than a dictatorship. Finally, the economy quickly was able to recover.
Review Questions
1) List 2 causes and 2 effects of the Mexican Revolution
2) What were the direct results of the Mexican Revolution?
3) Explain Porfirio Diaz's role in the Mexican Revolution
4) Why did Madero try to usurp Diaz's dictatorship?
5) Describe the importance of the Constitution of 1917 during this time
Citations:
-“Mexican Revolution.” 2013. The History Channel website. Mar 5 2013, http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-revolution.
-"Mexican Revolution." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 May 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Mexican Revolution of 1910." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.
Primary Sources
-"Â Mexican Revolution at ISC." Constitution of 1917. latinamericanstudies, 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Artillery in the Mexican Revolution." Artillery in the Mexican Revolution. Mexican Revolution, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Mexican Refugees." Mexican Refugees. Latinamericanstudies, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
Review Questions
1) List 2 causes and 2 effects of the Mexican Revolution
2) What were the direct results of the Mexican Revolution?
3) Explain Porfirio Diaz's role in the Mexican Revolution
4) Why did Madero try to usurp Diaz's dictatorship?
5) Describe the importance of the Constitution of 1917 during this time
Citations:
-“Mexican Revolution.” 2013. The History Channel website. Mar 5 2013, http://www.history.com/topics/mexican-revolution.
-"Mexican Revolution." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 May 2013. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Mexican Revolution of 1910." World History: The Modern Era. ABC-CLIO, 2013. Web. 5 Mar. 2013.
Primary Sources
-"Â Mexican Revolution at ISC." Constitution of 1917. latinamericanstudies, 26 Oct. 2009. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Artillery in the Mexican Revolution." Artillery in the Mexican Revolution. Mexican Revolution, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.
-"Mexican Refugees." Mexican Refugees. Latinamericanstudies, n.d. Web. 05 Mar. 2013.