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History of Mexico

Directions: Answer the following questions after each video segment.

The Aztec Empire, 1325–1521 1. What is considered to be “the heart of Mexican civilization”?

2. What did the Aztecs do in 1325?

3. How did the Aztecs treat other groups in the Valley of Mexico and beyond?

The Spanish Conquest of the Aztecs, 1519–1521 4. What did the Spanish call the new lands they explored and conquered?

5. Why was Cortés allowed to enter Tenochtitlán unopposed?

6. What three main advantages did the Spaniards have over the Aztec forces?

Spanish Colonization, 1521–1821 7. How was the mestizo population created?

8. What was the Indians’ role in the economy of New Spain?

9. What is an encomienda?

Mexican Independence, 1810–1821 10. What were the four groups on Mexico’s social pyramid in order from lowest to highest?

11. Who led the first revolt in Mexico’s struggle for independence?

12. How did Mexico finally win its independence in 1821 under the leadership of Agustín Iturbide?

Benito Juárez and the French Invasion, 1861–1872 13. Who was Benito Juárez?

14. What was the difference between the liberals and the conservatives in Mexico?

15. What happened in the Cinco de Mayo battle?

Porfirio Díaz and the Mexican Revolution, 1877–1920 16. How did Porfirio Díaz rule Mexico?

17. Who benefited the most from Díaz’s rule? The least?

18. What did the revolutionaries achieve after the first six months of battle?

19. Francisco Madero is considered the “Father of the Mexican Revolution.” What happened to him?

20. What did Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa do during the Mexican Revolution?

21. What was Alvaro Obregón’s main achievement?