Mexican Revolution Research Paper

Great Essays
Shauna Healey
Christopher Woolley
LAH 3931: Conquest & Conflict in Mexico
Essay #2: Mexican Revolution
A Revolution of Many Faces
Revolutions generally have two sides. For example, the American Revolution was fought between the northeastern colonies of the New World and Great Britain. The Mexican Revolution, however, greatly differs because it was composed of several civil wars with many different political and radical leaders with opposite views on how to reform the country. The Mexican Revolution involves a complex range of events and political players who sought power to change the Mexican political structure. The outburst of the Mexican Revolution was the result of the long-lasting reign of Porfirio Diaz and reached its complexity with
…show more content…
Francisco Madero, for example, was motivated to run in the 1910 election (Chavez 201). Madero’s campaign focused on developing a centralized government, sympathizing for workers on haciendas, suffrage, and no re-election (Woolley). In response, Diaz has Madero arrested and exiled to the United States, then claims the presidency for himself (Chavez 214). While in America, Madero drafts the Plan de San Luis Potosi, calling “upon the nation to rise up in arms” against the Porfirian government (Chavez 214). Although the text was vague, Madero was advocating for a political, rather than social revolution (Woolley). His plan momentarily gained support from several important players of the Mexican revolution. The conflict between Diaz and Madero was the start of Mexican civil war and resulted in the formation of other revolutionary groups. All of these players brought opposing ideology on political and social reforms for the Mexican nation, resulting in widespread violence and swift changes in …show more content…
By the time Obregon took office, Porfirio Diaz was defeated, exiled, and deceased, Madero fled to France for the remainder of his life, Huerta was forced to resign then exiled, Carranza was assassinated, and Zapata was murdered on April 10, 1919. By the end of the revolution, “Pancho” Villa and Obregon were the only players left standing. Obregon held office until 1923. He made a deal with Villa, offering him to live on a ranch in the mountains and to forget his revolutionary tendencies (Woolley). In return, Obregon promised to pardon Villa’s life. Villa agreed and lived on his ranch for several years, until he was murdered. In 1928 Obregon was re-elected after Calles’ presidency, but was assassinated before he could reclaim the position

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Critical Assessment of “Sentiments of the Nation,’ Chilpancingo, Mexico” Mexico had a hard time gaining independence around 1810-1815. The two men leading this struggle were Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Maria Morelos, both parish priests. Hidalgo was more reformed and quirky whereas Morelos was a little lack luster but had more respect from the community. Hidalgo made an insurrection in 1810 that expressed his opposition toward colonial government and the immigrant Spanish elite. Despite it declaring a rush for independence, he was still executed.…

    • 1141 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Haiti and Latin America share many similarities including their revolutions. The Haitian and Mexican revolutions are moderately similar in that they fought for independence with multiple leaders, slavery was abolished in both; however, Haiti experienced debt and Mexico resulted in little social change. One of the main causes of both The Haitian and Mexican revolutions was independence. In both places there was slavery and an unequal social system. Many groups of people were treated unfairly.…

    • 437 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Revolutions have been a part of history since the first empire, some still go on today. I will be writing about 3 revolutions that we have learned about in World History; the revolution of Mexico, the U.S. revolution, and the French revolution. I will also discuss the goals and results of these events as well as the similarities and differences of them. The Mexican Revolution was caused by the people of latin america no longer wanting to be ruled by a european power.…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    To be a natural born or naturalized citizen of the United States is regarded by most as a privilege, because for many immigrants, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are best accomplished in this country than those they leave behind. After all, the United States is built on these moral principles, and afforded to anyone willing to exercise these values. On the other hand, America is also built from the tired, sore, and bleeding hands of men, women, and children who, with promises of a better future, liberated themselves from one evil only to be introduced to a different kind of evil, one more oppressing than the one they fled from. How exactly was the ‘great nation’ able to allude such high esteem by countries everywhere, mainly, it’s…

    • 1077 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The ineffectiveness and impotence of Madero to rule Mexico was highlighted. Later, a covenant made in 1912 in Chihuahua stated that all the latifundistas will be compensated and the lands will return to their previous owners. The real intention was to obtain the support of landlords and powerful families. During 1911 and 1912, Zapata faces with Madero’s army; Felix Diaz organized a revolt but it failed and was sent to prison. Madero seeking to stop the armed rebellions, placed Victoriano Huerta as the leader of the division in the north.…

    • 1385 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The Wind That Swept Mexico, by Anita Brenner, is a very intriguing piece that draws attention to the reader through it’s clear description of the revolution and what occurred after it was over. Originally published in 1943 by the Texas Press, Brenner’s piece was known as one of the first to present many different phases of the revolution. Brenner was born in Mexico and lived there for many years. She used to write dispatches for Spain during the Spanish Civil War and edit “Mexico This Month’s” magazines, which probably influenced her more to write about an event as big as the revolution. Mexico’s well-known rulers from the north and south, Madero, Porfirio Diaz, Villa, Zapata have played an important role in these key phases of the revolution.…

    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    The causes of the Mexican-American War were due to several reasons and some were the independence of Texas, Nuevo Mexico, California, Sonora, and Yucatan. The new Mexican government led by its first Mexican President, Guadalupe Victoria, was a violent one due to the Anglo immigration to the Mexican northern territories. Centralism played an important role in the subsequent loss of the entire northern frontier to the United States (Meier and Ribera, 54). Texas grew tired of the violent harassment from Mexico’s government and declared for independence, therefore Anglo population were in belief of self-government and Manifest Destiny. Texas residents grew tired and would follow Mexican’s government policy in becoming Catholics and swearing and…

    • 1133 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Mexican War Dbq

    • 1637 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Some people felt the war against Mexico was justified as Mexico had threatened war and…

    • 1637 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Oscar Deolarte 4/27/15 English 2nd Social studies 4th Mexican-American War Its 1821 and you are in Mexico celebrating your freedom from Spain. 25 years later a war has begun against your neighboring country, the U.S.…

    • 585 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Mexico before Diaz was the post-independence period consisting of infighting among the centralists and regionalist, soon after between the liberal and the conservatives. The country was in constant state of what seemed to be political anarchy. The constant infighting creating civil conflict naturally weakened the nation essentially allow the United States to encroach in 1846 resulting in more than half of Mexico’s national land to be lost to them. Not long after the liberal reform came to rise, led by Benito Juarez, was there some stability among the nation. Not long after the liberal enacted radical social reforms creating unrest allowing the intervention by the French under Napoleon III in 1863, placing a surprisingly liberal Emperor from the Habsburg line, Maximillian, who was overthrown and executed by Juarez another example of the instability within the Mexican political system.…

    • 1000 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Few Mexicans have had an impact on the country as Pancho Villa has. Being an important figure in the Mexican Revolution greatly contributed to his legacy. Many people in Mexico know the name of Pancho Villa and who he was. His life was filled with important moments that would be significant to the Mexican Revolution, which is arguably the most defining moment in Mexico’s history. The death of Pancho Villa was significant, but it marked an important change to Mexico.…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Jacob Ashcraft 24 October 2016 Texas Revolution Was Inevitable In one of the first major scholarly works on the Texas Revolution, historian Eugene C. Barker in 1928 described the conflict as a “clash of cultures.” Barker maintained that Anglo-Texans and Mexicans had little in common and, as a result, concluded that the rebellion could not have been avoided. Barker is correct in his statement about war being inevitable. Some believe it was because the Anglo colonists wanted overrun Texas and break away to become a part of the United States in the venture westward.…

    • 930 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    As more cracks began to show in Vargas’ foundation, the country was adversely affected. Where Vargas had the option to silence his critics with threat of incarceration under the New State, this new era made him much more susceptible to his opposition. It certainly was not a secret that Vargas was growing frustrated with those who spoke out against him and when one of his adversaries, Carlos Lacerda, narrowly escaped an assassination attempt, many believed Vargas to be the primary suspect. Evidence led investigators to members of the administration who appeared to have acted outside Getulio’s knowledge, but when it became obvious that there were many shady activities going on with the same group, blame came full circle to Vargas and his failure…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    I chose to write my essay on Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence Day is on September 16th. They celebrate by having parades, festivals, parties, dancing, fireworks, feasts and much more. They hang Mexican flags everywhere this day. They blow whistles and horns and throw confetti is thrown everywhere.…

    • 254 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    For the culture shock assignment, I decided that I would go to a Mexican grocery store. I went to Bonito Michoacán. Before going, I decided that in order to have the best experience I would have to look around the whole store and buy something. To make things more exciting I decided I would buy something to make for lunch and possibly a treat. On my way there, I was kind of nervous.…

    • 1422 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays