Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution was an extended sequence of armed regional conflicts. It lasted from November 20, 1910, to December 1, 1920. Many historians call it the defining event of modern Mexican history.

The conflict fundamentally transformed Mexican culture and government. It led to the destruction of the old Federal Army. A new revolutionary army replaced the previous military structure. This period was primarily a civil war. However, foreign powers also played a role due to economic interests. The United States, in particular, had high involvement in the struggles. The war was very costly for the population. It led to the deaths of around one million people. Most of these victims were non-combatants, or regular citizens.

Before the revolution, President Porfirio Díaz ruled Mexico for many years. He held the presidency from 1876 until 1911. This era is known as the Porfiriato.

Díaz focused on a philosophy of "Order and Progress." He promoted industry and built new infrastructure like railroads and dams. He also opened Mexico to significant foreign investment. However, this growth created deep inequality. Wealth and political power were concentrated among a few elite families. These families controlled vast estates called haciendas. For example, the Terrazas family held an estate in Sonora exceeding one million acres. This left many Mexicans as landless peasants. By 1900, an estimated 9.5 million peasants worked for wealthy landowners.

Political tension grew because Díaz controlled the government with a strong hand. He often rigged elections to stay in power. He also used a rural police force called the Rurales to seize land. This force was directly under his control. In 1910, Francisco I. Madero challenged Díaz in the presidential election.

Díaz responded by jailing Madero. In protest, Madero issued the Plan of San Luis Potosí. This plan called for an armed uprising against the regime. Rebellions began in Morelos and spread heavily through northern Mexico. The Federal Army proved unable to suppress these widespread uprisings. This weakness forced Díaz to resign in May 1911. He went into exile, and an interim government took over.

After Díaz left, Madero was elected President in November 1911. However, his government was fragile and inexperienced. He immediately faced an armed rebellion from Emiliano Zapata in Morelos.

Zapata and his followers demanded rapid agrarian reform. This meant they wanted land returned to the peasants. In February 1913, a coup d'etat occurred in Mexico City. Prominent generals from the old Díaz regime forced Madero to resign. Shortly after, Madero and Vice President Pino Suárez were assassinated. The new President, Victoriano Huerta, ordered these deaths. This event started a much bloodier phase of the revolution. A coalition of northerners formed to oppose Huerta's regime.

This coalition was known as the Constitutionalist Army. It was led by Venustiano Carranza, the Governor of Coahuila.

The Constitutionalists fought to defeat Huerta's government. They succeeded, and Huerta's regime fell in July 1914. After the Federal Army was defeated, the revolutionary armies began fighting each other. The Constitutionalist faction under Carranza fought against the army of Pancho Villa.

By the summer of 1915, Carranza's forces had defeated Villa. This victory allowed Carranza to consolidate his power over the country.

In February 1917, Carranza promulgated a new Constitution for Mexico.

This document was very important for the nation's future. It established universal male suffrage, which means all men could vote. It also promoted secularism and protected workers' rights. The Constitution encouraged economic nationalism and land reform. It also increased the power of the central government. Carranza became President in 1917. He served until 1920, when northern generals rebelled against his chosen successor. Carranza fled Mexico City and was eventually killed.

From 1920 to 1940, a group of revolutionary generals held the presidency. They established a period of centralized state power. During these decades, the military was brought under civilian control. A political party was founded in 1929. This group eventually became the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or the PRI. The PRI ruled Mexico until the year 2000. Even though the revolution ended years ago, its impact remains. The struggle for democracy and land rights continues to shape Mexican identity. The transition of power in 2000 was seen by some as a continuation of the democratic goals started in 1910.