Topic #11: The Mexican Revolution (Year 1, Units 5-7)

Victoria Vaca

Porfirio Díaz & the Científicos

Porfirio Díaz relied on the Científicos, a group of technocratic advisors, to modernize Mexico economically, but their elitist policies widened inequality, fueling revolutionary discontent.

Campesinos & Land Reform (Ejidos, Haciendas)

Campesinos demanded land redistribution, opposing the hacienda system. Their fight led to reforms like ejidos (communal lands) after the revolution.

Francisco Madero & Plan de San Luis Potosí

Madero launched the revolution with the Plan de San Luis Potosí, calling for the end of Díaz’s rule and land reform.

Emiliano Zapata & Plan de Ayala

Zapata issued the Plan de Ayala, rejecting Madero’s leadership and demanding immediate land redistribution

Pancho Villa & the Battle of Ciudad Juárez

Villa, a northern revolutionary leader, gained fame for victories like the Battle of Ciudad Juárez, which weakened Díaz’s regime.

Victoriano Huerta & La Decena Trágica

Huerta seized power during La Decena Trágica, betraying Madero and sparking further revolutionary conflict.

Henry Lane Wilson & U.S. Intervention

Henry Lane Wilson, the U.S. ambassador, played a controversial role in supporting Huerta during Madero’s downfall.

Constitutionalists vs. Conventionalists

Constitutionalists (Carranza, Obregón) sought a centralized liberal government, while Conventionalists (Zapata, Villa) emphasized agrarian and social reform.

Soldaderas & Women’s Role

Soldaderas were women who served as nurses, fighters, and supporters during the revolution, embodying grassroots participation.

1917 Constitution & Land Reform

The 1917 Constitution introduced progressive reforms, including land redistribution (ejidos) and labor rights, but implementation varied.

Lázaro Cárdenas & Cardenismo

Cárdenas revived revolutionary ideals through Cardenismo, emphasizing land redistribution, education, and nationalization of oil.

Plutarco Elías Calles & the Maximato

Calles ruled behind the scenes during the Maximato (1924–1934), controlling puppet presidents and suppressing opposition.

Cristeros Rebellion & Church-State Tensions

The Cristeros Rebellion was a Catholic uprising against the anticlerical policies of the revolutionary government, especially under Calles.

Rurales & Leyes de Fuga

Under Díaz, the Rurales enforced order through brutal means like the Leyes de Fuga, justifying executions of rebels under the guise of escape attempts.

Foreign Investment & Economic Inequality

Heavy foreign investment under Díaz benefited elites but displaced peasants, causing deep social unrest that fueled revolution

Wilsonian Democracy & U.S. Intervention

President Wilson promoted Wilsonian Democracy by refusing to recognize Huerta and supporting Carranza, shaping U.S. foreign policy.

Caudillos & Revolutionary Fragmentation

Leaders like Villa and Zapata were caudillos—strongmen with regional power—whose rivalries fragmented the revolutionary movement.

Muralist Movement & Revolutionary Ideals

Artists like Rivera, Orozco, and Siqueiros used murals to spread revolutionary ideals about class struggle and Mexican identity.

Corridos & Cultural Impact

Corridos, or folk ballads, became a popular way to tell stories of revolutionaries like Villa and Zapata, spreading revolutionary messages.

Impact on Literature & National Identity

The revolution profoundly shaped Mexican literature, emphasizing themes of inequality, struggle, and national identity.