Mexican Revolution: 1910

From Dictatorship to Constitutional Republic The original idea behind the Mexican Revolution was to overthrow the Diaz Regime. However, things spun totally out of control. Historian John Womack, Jr. sums up the chaos of the Mexican Revolution in his book Zapata and the Mexican Revolution, "The revolutionaries won. The question was: Which revolutionaries?"

The Mexican Revolution in a Nutshell In 1911, Francisco I. Madero overthrew longtime Mexican dictator Porfirio Díaz. Madero was not able to create stability and was himself ousted by counterrevolutionary general Victoriano Huerta in Huerta's regime only lasted until 1914, when Huerta was exiled. Venustiano Carranza emerged as the new leader, desperately trying to fight all other revolutionaries, i.e. Francisco Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, off his back. Carranza was the new Mexican president in 1917 and got himself shot in Things finally calmed down a bit when Álvaro Obregón became president in 1920.

Porfirio Diaz

Francisco Madero

Victoranio Huerta

Venustiano Carranza

Pancho Villa and Emilano Zapata

Pistol Packin’ Mamas

Things finally calmed down a bit when Álvaro Obregón became president in 1920.

Alvaro Obregon

The Mexican Revolution — When Did It Start? When Did It End? The Mexican Revolution officially started on November 20, 1910, although fighting broke out earlier than that. However, November 20 it is because this date was chosen by Francisco Madero in his Plan of San Luis Potosí. Today, the beginning of the Mexican Revolution is commemorated as a public Mexican holiday. Historians disagree when it comes to its ending point. Commonly used is the year 1920 but some say it was in 1917, a few others even favor the year 1940.