National Park Serivce Chamizal U.S. Department of the Interior Chamizal National Memorial

The Mexican Revolution

A student once told a history seek re-election. In the end, he did professor that “history is a nightmare seek re-election. from which I can never wake up.” If there is ever a section or time period A northerner, Francisco Madero of history that fits this description, it was disgusted with Porfirio Díaz. He is the Mexican Revolution. Indeed, wrote a book criticizing Díaz and during the discombobulating years then decided to run against him in. from 1911 through 1940 assassination When Díaz realized that Madero of political leaders and coup d’états would beat him in the elections, he were commonplace in Mexico. This had Madero arrested and thrown in brief essay acts as an overview of the jail. When Madero got out of jail, he Mexican Revolution, hopefully thus organized a revolutionary movement avoiding a headache that might come in the northern states of Chihuahua if you further research the topic. and Durango. Pancho Villa—a Robin Hood meets Jesse James type—allied When Porfirio Díaz (his his army with Madero. In southern administration was known as the Mexico, a chronic drunk by the Porfiriato) was ousted from power name of Emiliano Zapata organized in 1911, so began the Revolution. forces against the Porfiriato as well. What did Díaz do that made him lose These combined revolutionary power in the first place? Well, lots of forces overwhelmed the Porfiriato. things. First, he suffered from chronic Consequently, the treaty of Juarez dishonesty. He was elected president in 1911 officially ended the reign of in 1876 and soon afterwards created Porfirio Díaz. An interim president a no re-election policy. Nevertheless, was named, and when elections after a new president from 1880- took place a couple of months later, 1884, Díaz would remain Mexico’s Madero became the president of dictator for the next two and a half Mexico. decades. Second, Díaz restructured the government so that instead of This is where the Mexican Revolution democratic elections, he himself really becomes a headache. Madero appointed all district and municipal did not hit the ground running into officials. As a result of this, the his presidency. The people wanted government was filled with his immediate change and Madero did friends and family members. Third, not give it to them. This resulted in he treated foreigners better than Madero being ousted from office by Mexican citizens. While he allowed General Victoriano Huerta, a general multinational corporations to come whom Madero had appointed! in and exploit Mexico’s natural Huerta had Madero assassinated resources, he never improved the by firing squad days later. Villa, abysmal working conditions for Zapata, as well as other regional Mexicans. Therefore, it was natural revolutionary forces including the that when a world recession occurred army of Venustiano Carranza did not in 1907 that caused millions of approve of this new president. Guess Mexicans to become unemployed, what happened? Huerta was ousted When ruthless President PorfirioDíaz from power in 1914. It turns out the (shown above) was ousted from the Porfiriato was the easy scapegoat. office, so began the Mexican Revolution Finally, in an interview to an Woodrow Wilson did not like Huerta Wikipedia Photo American journalist in 1910, the 80 either; when Huerta was fleeing to year old Díaz claimed he would not America, he was arrested in El Paso and spent the remainder of his life in secretary in 1919, and Villa was jail. murdered while relaxing in retirement in 1923. After Huerta’s ousting and another interim president, Carranza Although historians continue to became president. However, Villa debate over when the Mexican in the north and Zapata in the Revolution officially ended. Recently, south decided that they did not many scholars have claimed that it did like Carranza either. Carranza was not terminate until 1940. This is due ousted in 1915 but managed his to the fact that throughout the 1920s way back in 1917. It was during and 30s there were revolutionary this year that Carranza developed movements, unfair elections, and the Constitution of 1917. The various civil wars in Mexico. All of Constitution called for a legislative, this began to change when in 1934 judicial, and executive branch of Lazaro Cardenas was elected by the government each with equal power. people—he hadn’t fixed the elections Also, the constitution improved like his predecessors. In 1940, after worker rights and conditions. Finally, six years in office as president, it called for democratic elections. Cardenas was voted out. What put Although Carranza was the “father” Cardenas a head and shoulder above of the Mexican constitution, he was his predecessors is that he voluntarily assassinated the year he wrote it. relinquished office, that is, he was Speaking of assassination, Zapata was elected and removed from office murdered by his general and personal democratically.

Mexican Revolution urban battle scene Wikipedia Photo