CHALLENGE FROM THE MIDDLE: THE LAST DAYS OF THE DIAZ REGIME

The costs of the Porfiriato regime ignored the masses the 1857 Constitution had been violated elections were a farce freedom of the press nonexistent liberal movement starts to build with alternative vision

the Flores Magnon brothers began publishing the Regeneracion - a Mexico City Weekly that challenged the Diaz regime they challenged a political boss (jefe politico) in Oaxaca in one of their columns and were arrested in 1901 and sent to prison for a year this began a cycle of challenges and prison terms until the brothers left for the United States in 1904 the Regeneracion began to be published from San Antonio, Texas - a much more militant and aggressive weekly

“Forever - for as long as Mexico can remember - today’s slavery will be identified with the name of the devil that made it all possible. His name is Porfirio Diaz, and his bestiality is being carried out in Mexico….But the day of liberation is coming. Prepare yourselves my fellow citizens.”

the flores magnon brothers after an assassination attempt, moved to St. Louis, Missouri and organized a meeting to plan Diaz’s overthrow, where a plan was published Liberal Plan - freedom of speech - freedom of the press - suppression of the jefes politicos - secularization of education/nationalization of church property - social reforms (including: end the death penalty, prison reform, 8-hr workday, education reform, prohibition of child labour, restore ejido lands) this represented a clear and articulate challenge to Diaz and included some concern for “the plight of the masses”

the flores magnon brothers attempt to attack Ciudad Juarez in 1906 and 1908, but plans fail

Francisco Madero Diaz announces in 1908 that there will be an election in 1910, in which he would not be seeking re-election Madero, son of a wealthy Coahuila hacendado, writes a book in 1908 entitled “The Presidential Succession in 1910” main points: biggest problem with Mexico was its military dictatorship - he encouraged for there to be an opposition party (an anti-reelectionist party) dedicated to more open voting and no re-election - and that change could come through the ballot box he toured around Mexico presenting his ideas

Francisco Madero Madero plans to run in the election, but is arrested and in prison in San Luis Potosi during the election once freed on bail, Madero moves to San Antonio, Texas and drafts a revolutionary plan - the Plan de San Luis Potosi in October of still thought problems largely political, but nevertheless encouraged the country to rise up with a call to arms