2.1/2.2 Notes

Mexico faced political and social chaos (1820s-1870s).
Legacy of the Mexican-American War and ongoing political strife.
Benito Juárez: Served five terms; favored human rights and democracy but manipulated elections, centralizing power.

Election of 1871: Díaz challenges Juárez; election results lead to a congressional decision favoring Juárez.
Revolution of La Noria: Díaz's demand for electoral freedom after the election.
Juárez's death in 1972 opens the door for Díaz to assert himself.
Presidency (1876-1911): Díaz becomes president after ousting Lerdo.

Díaz claimed to provide stability and peace but ruled with an iron fist.
He eliminated national debt, bolstered various industries (mining, textiles, banking).
Economic growth primarily benefited elites and foreign investors, widening the gap between rich and poor.

Labour Conditions: Most Mexicans worked long hours for low wages; harsh treatment, no rights to strike, and adverse working conditions.
Exploitation of Agricultural Land: Privatization led to large land estates (haciendas), effectively enslaving laborers to work lands taken from them.

Historical tension due to the Catholic Church's influence on political power and economics.
La Reforma (1854): Attempted to reduce Church power; led to Ley Juárez and Ley Lerdo laws.
Díaz’s initial approach towards co-opting the Church showed limited enforcement of reform laws.

Terrenos Baldios Law: Enabled state seizure of unowned lands, selling them to investors; significant cultural and socio-economic upheaval.
Haciendas became oppressive, leading to a disenfranchised labour force.

Foreign corporations dominated the sectors with locals facing discriminatory treatment and lower wages.
Significant strikes, such as the Cananea strike (1906) and Rio Blanco textile strike (1907), highlighted worker grievances.

Railway investments fostered transportation but further enriched elites while providing no benefits to workers.
Oil industry expansion through foreign investments, e.g. Edward Doheny.

Primary Issues of Discontent:
- Harsh treatment of campesinos (peasants).
Resources exploited for foreign profit.
- Lack of political voice for workers.
- Economic disparities and rising costs of living; poor treatment of local laborers compared to foreigners.

The Mexican Revolution's roots lay in systemic social, economic, and political issues exacerbated by Díaz's rule and the exploitation of labor.
Key Contributors to Revolution:
- Class disparities created a fertile ground for revolt among various socio-economic classes in Mexico.
- As conditions worsened (global economic downturn), calls for reform intensified.

2.1 Causes of the Mexican Revolution

Key Question: What conditions in Mexico led to revolution?Key Concepts: Causation, Perspective, Porfiriato.

Mexico faced significant political turmoil from the 1820s to the 1870s, stemming from the aftermath of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), which contributed to national instability and loss of territory. The period was characterized by a series of power struggles and the overarching influence of political caudillos (military leaders).
Benito Juárez (1858-1872): A prominent reformer, Juárez championed the principles of democracy and human rights. His terms in office were marked by a commitment to liberal reforms, yet he also engaged in election manipulation to maintain political stability, which centralized executive power and alienated various factions.

Election of 1871: Díaz's challenge to Juárez in the 1871 elections reflected the growing dissatisfaction with his leadership. Despite his popular support, the election results incurred a congressional decision that favored Juárez, leading to political unrest.
Revolution of La Noria (1871): Following the disputed election, Díaz led a revolt demanding electoral reforms, signaling the discontent among various societal groups.
Díaz's Presidency (1876-1911): He leveraged the internal strife to seize power, eventually ousting President Lerdo. Díaz's long tenure marked a shift towards authoritarian governance, eclipsing democratic processes.

Díaz's regime initially promised stability and modernization, but he ruled through oppressive methods, suppressing dissent and political opposition.
His government touted economic improvements, such as reducing national debt and fostering the growth of various industries like mining, textiles, and banking. However, these benefits predominantly accrued to wealthy elites and foreign investors, thus increasing disparities between the rich and the impoverished masses.

Labour Conditions: By the early 1900s, many Mexicans labored under oppressive conditions, facing long work hours, minimal pay, and harsh treatment without any unions or rights to advocate for their welfare, creating an environment ripe for revolutionary thoughts.
Exploitation of Agricultural Land: The late 19th century saw privatization trends lead to the establishment of haciendas (large estates), wherein native laborers found themselves disenfranchised, effectively transforming them into semi-enslaved agricultural workers.

The entangled history of Church influence in central Mexican politics fostered tension, especially regarding economic rights and the authority in legislative processes.
La Reforma (1854): With a series of laws aimed at reducing the power of the Catholic Church, including Ley Juárez and Ley Lerdo, the policies manifested a conflict between state-driven reforms and Church interests but ultimately faced substantial resistance under Díaz's tenure.

Agricultural Reforms: The enactment of the Terrenos Baldios Law (1883) allowed for the state-imposed seizure of unowned lands, which further entrenched social upheaval and alienation of the peasant class.
Mining and Textile Industries: These sectors remained largely under foreign corporate dominance, leading to significant strikes, such as the Cananea (1906) and Rio Blanco (1907) strikes. Local workers expressed grievances over discriminatory wages and exploitative conditions.
Railway and Oil Industries: Though railway projects bolstered transportation, they primarily enriched elite landowners while neglecting workers' rights and benefits. The oil industry expanded significantly due to foreign investment, notably with figures like Edward Doheny, leading to further economic disenfranchisement among locals.

Primary Issues of Discontent: The oppressive treatment meted out to campesinos (peasant community), the exploitation of natural resources for foreign profit, lack of political representation for workers, and the widening gap in economic equality served as catalysts for the revolutionary movement.

The roots of the Mexican Revolution lay in systemic social, economic, and political problems worsened by Díaz's governance. Rising class disparities constructed a fertile ground for revolt among various socio-economic classes, particularly as global economic downturns exaggerated calls for reform, setting the stage for a transformative uprising.