Modern Mexican History Through Murals

Tenochtitlan Marketplace, Diego Rivera, 1933

Aztec Society In this Mural, we see Aztec merchants trading their daily wares in the Aztec Capital of Tenochtitlan. Aztec Society lasted from about 1345 to 1521 By the time of Montezuma II, Tenochtitlan was an impressive city connected to the mainland by a series of stone bridges. The city had temples, pyramids, palaces and a huge marketplace. Stone-edged canals carried thousands of people through the city daily.

Conquest, Jose Clemente Orozco, 1939

Spanish Conquest Hernan Cortez, a Spanish conquistador arrived in Mexico in Within two years he and his small group of soldiers had conquered the powerful Aztec empire. Cortez found allies among the nations the Aztecs had conquered. The Spanish also had great technological advantages such as horses, muskets, metal armor and cannons. Also, diseases such as smallpox and influenza brought by the Spanish killed Aztecs and other native peoples by the thousands. By 1700, the Indian population was reduced from 25 million to 1 million.

Absorption of the Indian by Jose Clemente Orozco, 1927

Absorption of the Indian, Jose Clemente Orozco, 1927 In this Mural, Cortez and Dona Marnia symbolize the blending of the Spanish and Indian races to create a new people, the Mestizo race.

Colonial Domination, Diego Rivera, 1933

This mural symbolizes 300 years of mistreatment of the indigenous population by the Spanish and symbolizes the motives behind the conquest. The Catholic Church helped the Spanish involvement by considering the Indians heathens and blessed the Spanish efforts to convert them to Catholicism. Ecomiendas or large land grants were given to the Spanish colonists by the king. Their owners were allowed to force labor from all Natives living on the land.

Fight for Liberty, Jose Clemente Orozco, 1939

Father Miguel Hidalgo lead a revolt against the Spanish rulers of Mexico and declared Mexico’s independence from Spain on September 16, Although the revolution was started by the Indian and Mestizo masses, the Conservative criollos eventually took it over and gained independence in 1821.

Juarez and the fall of Empire, Jose Clemente Orozco, 1948

Benito Juarez was the first leader of Mexico to bring about significant legal reform. In the mural he is surrounded by the struggles that led to those changes. Juarez came to power after a long civil war and began enacting reforms and rebuilding the Country. His presidency was interrupted by the invasion of Mexico by the French. Juarez and his forces fought against the French in 1867 and he continued his reforms until his death in 1872.

Revolution against Porfirian Dictatorship, David Alfaro Siqueiros, 1922

Porfirian Dictatorship When Porfirio Diaz came to power in 1876, Mexico was deeply in debt to foreign governments and needed to improve their technology for mining and agriculture. Diaz focused his attention on business and industry. He invited foreign investors to establish businesses in Mexico. Mexico was modernized but this modernization did not improve the lives of the majority of Mexicans who lived outside the big cities.

Repression, Diego Rivera, 1933

Repression This mural shows the force used by the government of Porfirio Diaz to control peasants’ dissatisfaction as they endured slave-like conditions on large Haciendas (ranches) This force and the conditions eventually contributed to the Mexican Revolution of 1910, which unseated Porfirio Diaz from power.

The Trench, Jose Clemente Orozco, 1927

The Trench This mural shows soldiers sacrificing themselves for the Revolution The Mexican Revolution began in 1910 created by the dissatisfaction of the masses with the Diaz regime. Diaz Fled in 1911 and Francisco Madero took office. Civil War then broke out across the country

Major Figures of the Mexican Revolution Porfirio Diaz-Leader of Mexico for 30 years at the time of the Revolution. Fled the country in Francisco Madero-called for Armed Revolution against Diaz. Elected President of Mexico in 1911 after Diaz fled. Assassinated by Victoriano Huerta in Francisco “Pancho” Villa-General and leader of the Northern Peasant Army in Mexico. Assassinated in Emiliano Zapata-Leader of the powerful Southern Peasant Army wanted land given to the poor. Assassinated 1919.

Major Figures of the Mexican Revolution General Victoriano Huerta-Overthrew Madero and tried to get Pancho Villa and Zapata on his side. When he started setting up his own dictatorship like Diaz, he was overthrown by Carranza. Venustiano Carranza-Became president of Mexico in 1917 by forming an Alliance with Zapata and Villa to overthrow Huerta. He then turned on Zapata and Villa. A New constitution of Mexico pass but reforms were slow. PRI- Institutional Revolutionary Party established in Most powerful political party until the 2000 election.

Land Distribution, Diego Rivera, 1920’s

Ejidos: plots of land owned by the government but given to the peasants. The constitution of 1917 guaranteed this return of lands as well as insuring protection for factory workers and other democratic freedoms. New attention was given to Mexico’s pre- Spanish origins. New heroes came out of the revolution including Pancho Villa, Zapata and Madero.

Timeline on Mexican History Create a Timeline of the periods of Mexican History. – Each Time period must have a detailed illustration, a one paragraph (3 to 5 sentences ) description of the time period dates. – Time Periods include: Aztecs, Conquest, Colonization, Independence, Benito Juarez and the Fight for Liberty (incl. Cinco de Mayo), The Diaz Regime, Mexican Revolution, Present (incl. PRI and recovery from the revolution).