Mexican Revolution Enduring Understandings 1.International conflict often leads to domestic changes. 2.In times of crisis, people often turn to strong leaders in search of stability. 3.Conflicts of the 20 th Century were rooted in political and ideological differences around the world. Agenda 1.Core self-assessment – review articles 1-5 and the comments, review the rubric, then assess latest article. Write a list of the changes you need to make 2.How have you researched? Do you have books, magazines or journals, and databases? Have you cited all phrases and content borrowed from other sources? Have you avoided wikipedia and sites like ask.com? 3.Questions about India and Southwest Asia 4.Mexican Revolution 1.Historiography 2.Timeline and analysis 5.Level 1 and 2 activities. Begin preparing for level 3.

Historiography: How has the Revolution been studied before? Orthodox View (ca late 1960s): Revolution was a mass, unanimous uprising; peasant v. small number of exploiters Regime of the 1920s was a populist, nationalist regime Despite emphasis on peasant movement, mostly Top-Down Myth of the Revolution – supported by the government, 1930  Notable purveyors of this view: Frank Tannenbaum, Robert E. Quirk, Charles Cumberland

Historiography (cont’d) Revisionist View ( s): There really was no revolution – it was just a political ‘shuffle’ of elites or just a ‘great rebellion’ Just a change from one dictator (Diaz) to another (Calles/Cardenas) As revision develops, studies moved away from Top-Down and focused on the social movements (e.g. Jean Meyer’s La Cristiada) Development of the Microhistory (e.g. Paul Friedrich’s Agrarian Revolution in a Mexican Village and *Luiz Gonzalez’s San Jose de Gracia*) Notable purveyors of this view: Ramon Ruiz, Jean Meyer

Historiography (cont’d) Post-revisionist view (1980s-now) Synthesis of the orthodox and revisionist views Revolution was first and foremost a social movement Regional perspective is key; generalisation must be carefully constructed Continued debate over top-down (e.g. E Krauze) v bottom-up (regional microhistorians) Notable purveyors of this perspective: Alan Knight, Linda Hall, John Womack, DA Brading

Historiography (cont’d) Top-Down v Bottom-up Who was more influential: the leaders or the masses? Cannot understand the revolution looking only at the leaders – it was a social revolution Yet can still learn a lot about the revolution from the careers of the leaders – especially leaders such as Villa, Madero, Zapata, Obregon, Cardenas We will be looking at these leaders

Radicals/Revolutionaries v. Reformers What is a Radical/Revolutionary? Can be divided into 2 groups: Agraristas – groups led to revolt due primarily to agrarian grievances. Thus, main goal was agrarian reform (e.g. Zapata) Serranos – groups led to revolt due to threats to way of life, varied based on region. Main goals included autonomy, political control, cultural independence (e.g. Pancho Villa) Both groups have common ground: they entered into revolution due to expansion under the Porfiriato

Radicals/Revolutionaries v. Reformers (cont) What is a Reformer? Working through governmental or legal institutions to bring about change After the Armed Revolution, succession of Presidents who attempted to institutionalise the revolution through reforms Types of reforms depended on the President – e.g. Obregon – political; Calles – cultural; Cardenas – socio-economic Can a Reformer be a Radical? Are all Revolutionaries Radical?

Causes of the Mexican Revolution Reign of Porfirio Díaz Ruled as a dictator “New Creoles” Modernized Mexico Masses suppressed Working class wages declined 95% of rural population did not own any land Mestizo population grew rapidly after 1850 Porfirio Díaz ( )

Start of the Revolution Election of 1910 Francisco Madero ran against Díaz Díaz had Madero arrested on election day Madero called for Díaz to be overthrown Movement supported by peasants and the middle class Díaz forced to resign in May 1911 Francisco Madero ( )

Mexican Revolutionaries (1910) Francisco MaderoPancho Villa

The Revolution Spreads Madero was unprepared Lack of land reforms led to open rebellion Emiliano Zapata “Land and Liberty” Pancho Villa Madero was overthrown by General Victoriano Huerta in February 1913 Madero was eventually assassinated Pancho VillaEmiliano Zapata Mural to Zapata in Cuba

Map of the Revolution

The Revolution Continues Huerta was opposed by a coalition led by Venustiano Carranza (top), Alvaro Obregón (bottom), Villa, Zapata, etc. Huerta was overthrown in 1914 Carranza appealed to masses Mexican Constitution of 1917 Villa and Zapata continued to rebel until 1919 and 1920 Carranza was overthrown in 1920 Replaced by Obregon ( )

Timeline of the Revolution

Women in the Revolution Intellectuals Called for equal rights, women’s suffrage, and other reforms Often endured threats, imprisonment, etc. Soldaderas Served as nurses, cooks, foraged for food, washed clothes and other services Served in the rebel army and the federal army Women Soldiers

Women in the Revolution

Aftermath of Revolution Over one million people died Revolution lacked a plan, a philosophy, intellectual leadership, or political parties Farming, ranching, and mining economies were destroyed Oil industry improved during revolution No major bank or newspaper survived

Constitution of 1917 Conferred strong powers to the president Laid basis for land reform No major redistribution until 1934 Government ownership of mineral and water resources New labor laws No major labor laws until 1931 Placed restrictions on the church and clergy Church went on strike in 1926

Aftermath Continued Alvaro Obregón ( ) Built schools and encouraged nationalism Diego Rivera Mexico becomes a single-party system Party of Revolutionary Institutions (PRI) Dominated politics until 2000 Lázaro Cárdenas ( ) Redistributed 45 million acres of land 253 million would be redistributed by 1984 Promoted economic nationalism Nationalized railroads (1937) and oil (1938)

Diego Rivera