The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a protracted, bloody armed conflict that resulted in the most significant changes to Mexican society and political leadership in the nation's history. Specifically between 1910 and 1920, the twentieth century saw the Mexican Revolution. Following the conclusion of the 1910 general election, which Madero vigorously contested, the Mexican Revolution got under way. The majority of Mexicans opposed the Diaz administration, and unrest broke out. From 1876 to 1911, Diaz presided over Mexico as the president for 35 years. The major cause of the Mexican Revolution was the controversial dictatorship of the regime that ruled at the time headed by President Porfirio Diaz. The president ruled Mexico for thirty-one years before he was forced to resign on 21st May 1911 (Knight).
The Key Players
The major aim of the Mexican revolution was to overthrow dictatorial regime as well as enhance both economic and social developments in the country. The key players in the Mexican revolution were Porfirio Diaz, Francisco Madero who succeeded Diaz as the president, Army General Huerta who organized a successful coup against Madero and assumed power as the president of Mexico, and Carranza who ousted Huerta to become the president. It can be claimed that the Mexican Revolution was a transitional growth that resulted into the political maturity of Mexico.
Ideologies Behind the Mexican Revolution
The various ideologies behind the Mexican Revolution included political liberalism, patriotism, economic nationalism, and anticlericalism where some leaders had a debauched attitude towards the church. Other ideologies included revolutionary developmentalism where leaders demanded revolutionary development in all sectors, labor reforms, agrarian reforms, and indigenismo where indigenous people wanted to be protected, educated and assisted by the government (Bantjes).
Causes of the Mexican Revolution
There were diverse causes that contributed to the start of the Mexican revolution. Firstly, the Diaz regime oppressed the poor peasant farmers by withholding their rights to declare land ownership but by a legal title only. Secondly, Diaz suppressed labor unions and welcomed foreign capitalists to invest in Mexico instead of promoting local investors. Thirdly, the working conditions for employees were poor and their wages were low. Besides, the Diaz regime ruthlessly suppressed workers' strikes whenever they arose. Also, the Mexican army used live bullets on protesters during labor strikes. The bodies of workers killed in demonstrations were used as food for sharks. When Madero was the president, people blamed the regime for the betrayal of people's interests (Keller). Those who opposed Madero's regime claimed that the president was too weak and extremely liberal to lead the country. Other causes were the authoritarian rule which was experienced during Huerta's regime.
Stages of the Mexican Revolution
The Mexican revolution occurred in five stages. During the first stage, the Diaz regime began oppressing the Mexican people. Widespread oppression sparks a revolution to reject Diaz who resigns through an armed conflict. In the second stage, Madero becomes the duly elected president of Mexico. Madero is opposed by the opposition of his regime on the grounds of being too liberal and extremely weak to lead the country. Also, Madero is accused of neglecting his people's welfares. Madero is assassinated and Huerta becomes the president (Bantjes). The third stage is the start of the authoritarian rule by Huerta. People are oppressed by the Huerta regime. The end of the third state is marked by an overthrow of Huerta from the government. The fourth stage is characterized by having Carranza as the president of Mexico. The government of Carranza is met by opposition from revolutionists from other regions in Mexico. Land taken from the Indians is given back through an armed conflict. Laborers obtained minimum wage and working hours were specified under the Constitution. Constitution was reformed to allow each president to run for only one term. Citizens started exercising voting rights and the government started directing education. Slavery was abolished and interference from foreign industries minimized (Knight). The fifth stage is referred to as the 'Terror Period'. During this fifth stage, reforms by Carranza brings inflation and workers strikes were stopped. Villa and Zapata who were opposition revolutionists start attacking the regime of Carranza. Approximately two million people died during this period. Through a secret army operation in 1919, Zapata is killed while Villa is forced into exile. Carranza and Obregon get into a power struggle and Carranza is killed. Obregon becomes the elected president in a general election. The revolution ends (Keller).
Outcomes of the Mexican Revolution
The outcomes of the Mexican Revolution included achievements as well as failures. The oppressive regime led by Diaz and Huerta came to an end. The Mexican people established the Constitution of 1917 which brought social, political, and economic reforms in Mexico. After the Mexican Revolution, the poor farmers acquired the right to own land and participate in an electoral process to elect their leaders. Slaves, women, and the minority Indians gained the right to own land and be protected from oppressive people such as employers and husbands. After the revolution, however, the economic conditions were still rough for the Mexican people and people struggled to make ends meet (Wilkie). Competition for land and farming increased after the end of the revolution and oil resources were nationalized hence controlled by the government.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that the Mexican Revolution was a period of transformation of social, economic, and political aspects of Mexico. The revolution was fueled by different ideologies such as agrarian reforms, labor reforms, political liberalism, patriotism, and political development desires. There were varying causes of the Mexican Revolution such as authoritarian rules, too weak and extremely liberal rulers, struggle for power, better wages and improved working conditions and the fight for respect to human rights. There was a transformation in different sectors of the government and numerous achievements such as the 1917 Constitution reforms were realized. However, many people died during the Mexican Revolution and property worth millions was destroyed.
Works Cited
Bantjes, Adrian A. "The Mexican Revolution." A Companion to Latin American History (2008): 330-346.
Keller, Renata. Mexico's Cold War: Cuba, the United States, and the Legacy of the Mexican Revolution. Cambridge University Press, 2015.
Knight, Alan. "The Ideology of the Mexican Revolution, 1910-40." Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe 8.1 (2015).
Wilkie, James Wallace. The Mexican revolution: federal expenditure and social change since 1910. Univ of California Press, 1970.
