MEXICOHISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Osvaldo Jordan

November 5, 2009

HISTORICAL SURVEY

• 1810-1815. Hidalgo and Morelos Insurrections.• 1821-1857. Early Republican Period.• 1857-1877. Liberal Reforma.• 1877-1910. Positivist Porfiriato.• 1910-1934. Mexican Revolution.• 1934-2000. Post-Revolutionary Mexico.• 2000 to present. A New Republic? For or

Against the United States?

EARLY REPUBLICAN1822-1823. Conservative Agustin De

Iturbide Empire.

General Antonio de Santa Ana dominated Mexican politics between 1832-1857.

After abolishing the federal constitution, he faced rebellions in Texas and Yucatan.

In 1836, Texan militias defeated the Mexican Army, and in 1845 they voted to annex to the United States.

EARLY REPUBLICANThe conflict with Texas led to the Mexican-

American War (1846-1848), in which the US gained the territories of California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado.

In 1855, Santa Anna was defeated by the Liberals, and a new constitution was approved in 1857.

The opposition of the Catholic Church led to the War of Reform (1857-1861), in which the Liberals under the leadership of Benito Juarez seized control of the national government.

THE LIBERAL REFORM

The Liberal Reform was interrupted by the French occupation, and the installation of the Maximiliano Empire between 1862-1867.

Once again, the Liberals recovered power under the leadership of Benito Juarez, who became President of Mexico until his death in 1872.

After losing the national elections, in 1877, the archetype of Latin American POSITIVISM, Porfirio Diaz staged a coup, and became the supreme leader of Mexico until he was defeated by the Revolution in 1910.

THE PORFIRIATO• During the thirty three years of Porfirio Diaz, the

Mexican economy expanded and the central state solidified.

• Yet, the social costs were staggering. In 1910, 97% of Mexican peasants did not have land.

• Much of the progress was achieved through foreign investment, especially British and American capital.

• Foreign capital also modernized the infrastructure, and introduced new technologies.

• In spite of this economic growth, the Diaz regime was also very repressive and undemocratic, creating opposition fronts in many different places.

THE MEXICAN REVOLUTIONSeveral forces opposed the Porfiriato, most

importantly:

- The Southern Army, led by Emiliano Zapata, and responding to peasant and indigenous demands for land.

- The Constitutionalist Army, led by Venustiano Carranza.

- The Northern Army, led by Pancho Villa.

THE MEXICAN REVOLUTIONIn 1910, moderate politician Francisco Madero

defeated Diaz, under the banner of “Effective Suffrage, No Reelection”.

He was assasinated in 1913, and Porfirian General Victoriano Huerta started a counterrevolution.

A year later, he was defeated by the Constitutional Army of Venustiano Carranza, in association with the so-called Northwest Group.

Carranza was responsible for the preparation of the 1917 Constitution.

THE 1917 CONSTITUTION

• Federal system with a separation of powers and a no reelection clause.

• State control of education, not the Church.• National control of land and natural resources.• Land Reform, including expropriation and

redistribution of land.• The most progressive labor legislation during

those days, including an 8-hour day, 40-hour week, and the right to organize and strike.

CONSOLIDATING THE REVOLUTION

• After the assassination of Carranza in 1920, the Northern Dynasty of Alvaro Obregon and Plutarco Elias Calles dominated Mexican politics until 1934.

• They ignored many of the provisions of the Revolution, especially the redistribution of land.

• In addition, the Revolution was also opposed by the Conservative Cristero and Sinarquista movements.

• The Revolution was not truly implemented until the Presidency of Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940).

THE CARDENAS REFORMS

• Nationalizing the oil industry.• Land redistribution (ejidos).• Institutionalizing the Revolution by restructuring

the government party, and creating a corporate structure, comprised by Labor, Peasant, Popular, and the Military.

Discontent with this lack of political opening, Conservative politicians formed the Partido de Accion Nacional (PAN) in 1939.

THE POST-REVOLUTION• The Revolution was accompanied by a

flourishing of the arts, literature, and philosophy, under the principle of INDIGENISMO.

• Unfortunately, in politics and economics, Post-Revolutionary Mexico was contradictory.

• The ejidos never received any support from the Government, and peasant and labor organizations were co-opted by the governing Partido de la Revolucion Institucional (PRI).

THE POST-REVOLUTION• In economic terms, post-revolutionary

governments promoted ISI, creating what came to be known as the Mexican Miracle (1940-1982).

• Industrialization accentuated the disparity between the rural and urban areas, producing a spectacular migration to Mexico City, and the beginning of emigration to the United States with the Bracero Program.

• Income inequality increased, and dissatisfaction with the economic and political model led to the Tlatelolco Massacre of 1968.