The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was the culmination of a mass of political, economic, and social tension that accompanied the regime of the dictator Porfirio Diaz. The Revolution began with the aims to overthrow Diaz, but the Revolution had a pronounced effect on the organization of Mexico's government, economy, and society.
Porfirio Diaz was the president of Mexico when the Revolution broke out. He was elected in 1877, and although he swore to step down in 1880, he continued to be reelected until 1910. He claimed that he was justified in this because he brought stability to Mexico. However, this was hardly the case. Diaz's regime aimed to industrialize Mexico, and foreign investors such as the United States and Britain were eager to support the industrialization. Diaz's policies were so accommodating to foreigners that it angered the Mexican people. While the foreign investments were a source of heated debate, Diaz's land policy was even more questionable. There was a concentration of land power in the hands of the elite, and there was a huge disparity between the poor and wealthy in Mexico during Diaz's regime. Also, a law passed in 1883 allowed private companies to survey the land, and these companies controlled nearly 20 percent of the land in Mexico. Also, Diaz was allowing foreign people to take the communal land away from the indigenous peoples. The indigenous people were poverty-stricken and had less land than ever. The one good thing was that Mexico was exporting industries like sugar and coffee to overseas trading partners, yet Mexico could not feed itself; it needed to import many foods like corn. The money in the hands of the elite was a major cause of the revolution in Mexico.
The election of 1910 was the controversy that marked the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. Francisco I. Madero decided to run against Diaz as a candidate in the election. Diaz allowed Madero to run, thinking that it would make the process look more
The Mexican Revolution was the culmination of a mass of political, economic, and social tension that accompanied the regime of the dictator Porfirio Diaz. The Revolution began with the aims to overthrow Diaz, but the Revolution had a pronounced effect on the organization of Mexico's government, economy, and society.
Porfirio Diaz was the president of Mexico when the Revolution broke out. He was elected in 1877, and although he swore to step down in 1880, he continued to be reelected until 1910. He claimed that he was justified in this because he brought stability to Mexico. However, this was hardly the case. Diaz's regime aimed to industrialize Mexico, and foreign investors such as the United States and Britain were eager to support the industrialization. Diaz's policies were so accommodating to foreigners that it angered the Mexican people. While the foreign investments were a source of heated debate, Diaz's land policy was even more questionable. There was a concentration of land power in the hands of the elite, and there was a huge disparity between the poor and wealthy in Mexico during Diaz's regime. Also, a law passed in 1883 allowed private companies to survey the land, and these companies controlled nearly 20 percent of the land in Mexico. Also, Diaz was allowing foreign people to take the communal land away from the indigenous peoples. The indigenous people were poverty-stricken and had less land than ever. The one good thing was that Mexico was exporting industries like sugar and coffee to overseas trading partners, yet Mexico could not feed itself; it needed to import many foods like corn. The money in the hands of the elite was a major cause of the revolution in Mexico.
The election of 1910 was the controversy that marked the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. Francisco I. Madero decided to run against Diaz as a candidate in the election. Diaz allowed Madero to run, thinking that it would make the process look more
Bibliography: 1. Coerver, Don M., Ph.D. "Mexican Revolution." MSN Encarta. Fall 2007. 2 Dec. 2007 <http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761588457_3/Mexican_Revolution.html>. 2. Mayer, Eric. "Mexican Revolution." Emayzine. Spring 2005. 2 Dec. 2007 <http://www.emayzine.com/lectures/MEX6.html>. 3. Stearns, Peter N., Michael Adas, and Stuart B. Schwartz. "Mexican Revolution and the Great War." History World. Summer 2004. 2 Dec. 2007 <http://history-world.org/ mexican_revolution_and_the_great.htm>.