Mexican Revolution Notes Monday, April 23, 2012 11:07 AM Rebellion Against Madera The Zapatista's led revolts calling for restoration of lands to rural villages Revolts spread through Morelos, Guerrero, Tlaxcala, Puebla, Mexico, and Mexico City The Plan de Ayala 1911 (not really a revolution if nothing's changing; Madera didn't focus on social hierarchy, but just political changes) In essence not radical enough; Madera never wanted to completely change the government, just wanted the government to be more accessible to him 1912 rebellions led to severe damage to railroad and telegraph lines Zapatistas victorious in battles against federal troops US ambassador supported Huerta because Madera wasn't promoting stability February 1913: rebels attacked Madero's forces to gain control of Mexico Victoriano Huerta, Madero's commanding general, took control of the country Madero imprisoned and killed while supposedly trying to escape 5/13: Analysis of sources 5/3 in class essay Rise of Huerta Most European governments recognized Huerta as the new leader of Mexico Huerta seemed capable of maintaining economic stability for foreign investors (Dictatorships more beneficial) The American ambassador (Henry Wilson), together with important American financial and business interests, urged Prez Wilson to recognize the new government as well. Am. amb collaborated with Diaz's nephew President Wilson began his "watching waiting" for a chance to take Huerta out of power "I will not recognize a government of butchers" This was unconventional, since nations prior did not consider the means by which a foreign regime has come to power before deciding to establish diplomatic relations Usually only based on health of investments, not morality Wilson brought enormous pressure to bear against Huerta He convinced the British to withdraw recognition Arms embargo still in place Huerta also faced opposition from 4 rebel armies led by Venustiano Carranza, Francisco 'Pancho' Villa chihuahu, Emiliano Zapata morelos, and Alvaro Obregon N/E Wilson channeled aid indirectly to these coalitions against Huerta April 1914 US ship "Dolphin" was stationed near Tampico, Mexico Several crew members arrested by Huerta loyalists when they went ashore They were released, and an apology was offered Yet the US demanded a formal apology and a 21 gun salute to the American flag Didn't really follow through April 22, congress gave Wilson permission to use armed forces against mexico. Wilson had the opportunity to act quickly Mexicans resisted tenaciously, suffering 400 casualties before falling back 19 marines and over 400 mex. Civilians were killed during the capture of the city But Huerta's tropps had already left the city Argentina, Brazil, Chile: ACB powers convened Niagra Falls Called for Huerta's resignation and creation of a provisional government Huerta refused until July 1914; resigned and led to Spain March 1915: Carranza became provisional president of Mexico after he re-entered Mexico City; US reconvened his government six months later Conditions in Mexico: Economy had deteriorated Communications had been disrupted Shortages led to high inflation Land and labor remained basic issues for Mexican people Carranza overlooked those issues, returning lands lost by landowners during Carranza called for Constitutional Convention in December `1917 constitution: Put common welfare above that of individual rights (socialist?) Protected workers with an 8 hour day Established the right to establish unions/collectively bargain Established ownership of Mexico's natural resources Also, despite Carranza's opposition, labor created the Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers (CROM) CROM helped later unify and lead the labor movement 2/3 of Mexico still under control of Zapata and Villa Villa was upset that the US had recognized Carranza's government believed the US should not have interfered in IB History Page 1
Mexican politics Villa raided a small New Mexican town: 17 Americans, over 100 of Villa's men were killed Wilson sent General John J Pershing to Mexico to capture Villa; dead or alive 15,000 troops tried to capture Villa in his home state, but unsuccessful Pershing's troops battled Mexican soldiers when the US troops entered the city of Carrizal instead of going around it The Pursuit of Pancho Villa Wilson realized a war between 15,000 US troops on Mexico's border and the Mexicans was imminent To avoid this, Wilson ordered the troops to withdraw in January 1917 Resistance remains: The Zapatistas in Morelos sent an open letter to Carranza in order to receive national attention Carranza responded with an apology and said he intended to honor him with a 21 gun salute On April 10, 1919, Guajardo's men appeared ready to fire a salute in Zapata's honor Instead they shot him, killing the peasant leader This eliminated the last significant military opposition The end of Carranza In 1920, Carranza nominated a loyal subordinate to serve as a puppet president (no reelection) Opposition rose and constitutionalists created an army of northerners marching them to Mexico City Carranza fled and was assassinated in May while on the road to exile November 1920 Obregon was elected to a four-year term The military phase of the Revolution ended Obregon's administration established the foundation for reconstruction (1910-1920) IB History Page 2
Five Mexican Revolutions Tuesday, April 24, 2012 8:38 AM Heavily debated: starting/ending point, who won/lost, whether it even occurred Four different phases: 1910 to the present First: "armed" phase 1910-1920 Aka constitutionalist years Madero's rise and fall to power Juerta's rise and fall Carranza's stability 1920-1940 "constructive phase" Mostly stable Obregon, Callas, Carthenas (moving toward socialist, granting requests) Basic political structures put into place Political party (single-party for which Mexico is famed) Socialist vestiges come through "The triumph of the capitalist state" Things that shook the confidence in the PRI: Student massacre during the Olympics in Mexico City (1968) And 1985 earthquake: government too slow to respond, citizens had to depend on themselves Zapatista uprising in 1994 due to NAFTA going into effect So in 2000, Vicente Fox of the PAN party was elected president "First revolution": Modernizing (bourgeois revolution) Diaz constructs a national market in the country through rail lines Money in circulation increased by several-fold as more people participated in the cash economic system Allowed him to send federal troops wherever; more control Madero Carranza Obregon: didn't want to overturn Diaz's economic system, just the political Well-off revolted against Diaz to gain a place politically Eventually Diaz began neglecting Mexico's market; built foreign export markets instead Americans owned 22% of Mexico's surface, 81% of mining industry, 80% of railroads First revolution is not very revolutionary; "Reform Liberals," "neo-porfirians," based on the definition of social/radical revolution, wasn't Changed structure of the state without changing the class structures of power within the state Madero --> Huerta --> Carranza Second revolution: Demanded massive land reform (Villa and Zapata) Villa in the north: redistributed previously US-owned land/haciendas into smaller parcels Zapata did the same, also decentralized government by creating federation of self -governing municipalities Diaz's national market resulted in sugar growers pushing peasant farmers off land; Zapata turned them against the national go vernment But little effect both Zapata and Villa nationally Second revolution was being "defeated" by the first; second revolution would be truly revolutionary due to its social implica tions However, political revolution was prioritized by Obregon and Carranza and the writers of the constitution of 1917; effective suffrage and no re-election Women involved in revolution; fought alongside Third Revolution Proletarian revolution Strikes against Diaz in 1906 Workers supported Carranza and central government, unlike Morelos peasants Worked with the revolution to get what they wanted? 1916: Largest strike in Mexican history Fourth Revolution: The heck? They don't actually say anything about the relationship with the US O.o just it changed. A lot. US influences Mexico more than the other way around Refuses to cut relations with Cuba Fifth Revolution Cultural revolution Diego Rivera, Orozco, Siqueiros Constructed sense of cultural identity Ultimately did not put a new class into power, but did improve and make concessions to all other classes; 8 hour work day, mi nimum wage, equal work for equal pay, return of IB History Page 1
property, free education Modernization: resulted in advances in health care, communication, education Limited upward mobility Gained ground against US (developed a spine? Oh) Created national identity with cultural revolution IB History Page 2
IB History Page 1 Notes: Quiz Tuesday, April 24, 2012 11:08 AM Cultural revolution: famous muralists PAN (Vicente Fox) The idea of breaking away from US autonomy Why isn't bourgeois revolution a revolution? How was Villa/Zepata defeated by the bourgeois revolution? How was the labor revolution incorporated into the bourgeois revolution? 1968 Olympics; student protest 1985 Earthquake 1994 NAFTA 2000 PAN Vicente Fox Mexico ignored US's embargo on Cuba