Mexico

Essential Question How does the political history of Mexico influence its instability as a democratic nation?

Early History Aztec civilization Capital present day Mexico City One of the few highly developed Native American civilizations Corn Capital present day Mexico City

Colonial Era (1521-1821) Hernan Cortes Conquered Aztecs Laid siege to Tenochtitlan Colonized Mexico as part of New Spain Benefit of the mother country Agriculture Commerce Catholicism Mestizos

Centuries of Colonialism End 1810 – Miguel Hidalgo Catholic Priest Started an 11 year series of wars for independence Independence gained 1821 From this point on Mexico struggled to establish a strong and stable government

Decades of Instability Why? Different factions and parties vying for power liberals vs. conservatives federalists vs. centralists church expansionists vs. anti-church expansionists Result? 36 different presidential administrations in 22 years

Instability leads to bad times During the 22 years of 36 presidential administrations Mexico loses half of its territory to the United States Mexican Cession Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo

First Constitution Established 1857 liberal in nature Similar to the United States Democratic Government Bill of Rights Limitations on the power of the Church What about the 1857 Mexican Constitution that is similar to the present day Mexican Constitution?

Europe Calls in Mexico’s Debts Why does Mexico owe European nations money? 1861 – Spain, France, and Britain occupy the coastal city of Veracruz to collect French Army pushes on to Mexico City and sets up a monarchy Emperor Maximilian (1864-1867) Why did these European nations decide to move back into Mexico in 1861?

Benito Juarez Returned to the Presidency in 1867 Executed Emperor Maximilian Still highly regarded as a democratic hero in Mexico

Dictatorship – Porfiriato Retired Military General Porfirio Diaz takes presidency in 1876 (Cuadillo) Diaz heads dictatorship that lasts 34 years Brings stability to the country for the first time since colonial era Authoritarian system Foreign investment Amassed huge wealth Eventually led to unrest in the upper and middle classes

Revolution of 1910 and more Instability Conflict breaks out in 1910 as a result of Diaz jailing Presidential candidate Francisco Madero Diaz has to flee Madero elected President in 1911 Madero begins using the military to put down revolts Madero assassinated in 1913 and instability reigns supreme once more

Peasant and Worker Revolts As Madero was being elected president a series of peasant revolts break out in southern and central Mexico under the leadership of Emiliano Zapata Desperate for land they wanted agrarian reform Ideals eventually incorporated into the 1917 Constitution Same time Pancho Villa was organizing an army of workers in the north Challenged the Mexican Army Attacked U.S. territory, U.S. Army comes into Mexico looking for him Inspires anger toward the United States

Constitution of 1917 Signing of the Constitution formally ends Revolution Created by a wide variety of ideals Universal secular education Profit sharing for workers Agrarian reform Social security Adult male suffrage (women 1950’s) Minimum wage Right to unionize Limited power to foreign investors Numerous articles Limiting the power of the Catholic Church

Stability? Sonoran el jefe By 1920 revolutionary leaders, including Zapata had been assassinated A group of revolutionary leaders to the north, Sonora, had consolidated power Putarco Elias Calles emerges as supreme leader After serving as President starting in 1924, he selects his successors up until 1934 Anticlericalism leads to war with leaders of the Church

Birth of the PRI 1929 – Calles brings together all people of power in Mexico The party went through a number of name changes but served its purpose The unchallenged and uninterrupted rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party Created to serve the interests of all involved and avoid political violence

Results of the Revolution Power of the traditional rural landowners was diminished Politically not economically Minimal power over local populations Political power of the Catholic Church severely limited Still very important in many areas Foreign investment limited Mexican nationalism

Results of the Revolution Political Elite bound together (beginning of a party system) Agreed to resolve issues through bargaining not violence Party and Constitution set the stage for a strong central government Power over the development of the country Agricultural Industrial Social What other country can we compare this development of a strong central government?

Lazaro Cardenas Cardenas chosen by Calles as Presidential Candidate (1934) Cardenas did not play along with Calles plan Initiates a coup and establishes himself as el jefe Calles has to flee to the United States

Cardenas Mobilizes the Lower Class Encouraged peasants to petition for the rights guaranteed them by the 1917 Constitution Land Reform 49 million acres of land distributed ejidos – large land grants to peasant groups Almost double the amount of land given out by other post-revolutionary government Encourages workers to unionize Demand higher wages and better working conditions

Cardenas’ Economic and Political Legacy – Expansion of the Government Petroleum Industry Cardenas takes it out of hands of foreign investors and nationalizes the industry Under strict government control Includes much of the Mexican population into the political system Mass participation of peasant and worker groups Voice of the masses heard in the government How does this contribute to stability? Military included into the official party

Cardenas’ Legacy Set Precedents Commitment to the poor Extensive campaigning – traveled to remote impoverished areas Sexenio – Single six year term To which U.S. President could we compare Cardenas?

Cardenas’ Legacy crumbles under his successors The leaders of the institutions he created and empowered began to use this power for their own benefit Clientelism – PRI’s patronage machine Provided ejido leaders and union leaders with government positions in exchange for political support Sets the stage for widespread corruption The goal of post-Cardenas administrations moves from social welfare in the 1930’s to development, industrialization, and accumulation of wealth in the 1940’s, 50’s, and 60’s

Rapid Development Rapid industrialization paralleled rapid population growth Created jobs for the population Consumer goods Migration to urban areas 1970’s rapid growth comes to a slow Population exceeded jobs Beginning of an economic crisis The Bailout Oil discovered in the Gulf of Mexico Economy saved with oil revenues Mexico borrows mucho dinero

The 80’s Oil prices fall severely No money to pay for the money borrowed Economic crisis ensues What happens when times of economic crisis hit in developing countries? Compare Mexico’s situation to another country of study?

Economic Reform Occurs under two Presidents Miguel de la Madrid (1982-1988) Carlos Salinas (1988-1994) Limit government role in economy Easier for producers to export goods Movement toward globalization NAFTA – 1993 How does NAFTA help and hurt Mexico?