1. Mexico

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

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 years

7. 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

8. 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?

9. 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 ( )
Why did these European nations decide to move back into Mexico in 1861?

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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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?

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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?

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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?

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