Mexico A Blending of Cultures

Quetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl was a god that was worshipped by the Aztecs, Toltec, and Maya in Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula. A prophecy told of the day that Quetzalcoatl would return to his people to reclaim his kingdom. In the year that the prophecy was to be fulfilled, Hernan Cortes and his conquistadores arrived from Spain to conquer the Aztec Empire

Colonialism and Independence Before the Spanish arrived, Mexico was occupied by many different native peoples such as the Toltec, the Maya, and the Aztecs. When the Spanish arrived at the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán, it began a rapid decline of all of the native cultures.

Colony and Country Mexico became a part of the Spanish empire. In 1821, Mexico won their independence under the leadership of a Peninsulare General Agustin de Iturbide who proclaimed himself the emperor of Mexico. He proved to be no better for the natives than the Spanish rulers. He was quickly overthrown by his rivals. Agustin de Iturbide

Land Reform By the mid-1800s, after several government overthrows, Benito Juárez took control promising land reform (dividing the land held by wealthy landowners among the peasants) and the separation of Church and State.

Corruption Porfirio Diaz took control of Mexico after Juarez and ruled for over 30 years. He was very dishonest and corrupt, and treated those who opposed him very harshly. This led to civil war.

Pancho Villa The civil war against Diaz was led by Pancho Villa, Francisco Madero, and Emiliano Zapata. As a result of the civil war, a new constitution was developed for Mexico and democracy was introduced. Nearly ½ of the farmland was finally distributed to the peasants.

Land Reform Since 1917, nearly half of the farmland has been redistributed mostly to peasant communities of 20 families or more. However, the government still holds title to the land, and use rights are parceled out to villages or individuals for farming.

The Hacienda The revolutions in Mexico have had one common theme- the redistribution of land. Haciendas (large estates) were set up like the European manor system with an Encomendero who owned the land and the many families who lived on the land. The families were expected to work for the Encomendero as peasants.

One-Party Rule In 1929, the Institutional Revolutionary Party emerged and gave some stability to Mexico by continuing to redistribute land. The party did not tolerate opposition and soon violence and corruption began to undermine democracy. This party kept a stronghold on Mexico until 1997.

Vicente Fox In 2000, Vicente Fox was elected president of Mexico. This was a sign the Mexico may be ready for another try at democracy.

A Meeting of Cultures Mexico’s culture is a mixture of Spanish and Native American culture. The Spanish brought their language and religion which still dominate Mexico today. The native culture still remains strong. Millions in Mexico still speak their native languages as well as Spanish

Economics: Cities and Factories There is a historical gap between the wealthy and the poor people of Mexico. Mexico is trying to develop a modern industrial economy to close this gap. Many rural Mexicans are moving from their rural villages in search of economic and educational opportunities in the cities.

Oil and Manufacturing Mexico has large oil reserves along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The profits of the oil industry have helped to finance the development of other industries.

Maquiladoras Many Mexican factories have been built along the U.S. border. These factories assemble imported material into finished products and then exported to the United States.

Population Mexico’s population has doubled between 1970 and 1998, and it is expected to double again by 2004. 74% of Mexicans live in cities and larger towns. Mexico City has the largest concentration of population on the earth.

Mexican Life Today Emigration- many Mexican workers leave Mexico for the United States in search of work. As a result, families experience separation from their loved ones.

Work and School There are a shortage of jobs in Mexico; this explains why so many are trying to find work in the U.S. The education system is over-burdened. Without a good education, workers cannot compete for the few good paying jobs that are available.

The End