1. The Mexican Revolution
………………………………..Former Students………

2. Background info.
The Mexican Revolution officially started on November 20, 1910.
Sparked by anger against Porfirio Díaz's rule and political corruption.
He had been in power for over 30 years

3. Diaz’s Rule ( )
There was a large gap between the rich, “The Creoles” led by Diaz himself and the poor.
Most of the power lay within the wealthy hacienda owners while the other 95% of the population had no land.
The treatment of the workers were exploited as they worked in poor conditions.

4. Diaz Cont.…
Believed that Mexico was ready for a Democracy and that the next leader should be elected as such.
Francisco Madero decided to run against Diaz and lost due to a rigged election and then imprisoned.
Madero drafted the Plan de San Luis Potosi which called upon the Mexican people to revolt against Diaz on November 20, 1910.
Diaz fled to exile in France , where he died in 1915.

5. Francisco Madero ( )
Promised Agrarian reforms which attracted the peasants.
Originally supported by Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Pascual Orozco.
Followed his promise of Democracy and was very liberal. However reform was slow.
Established a labor organization which reduced hours, gave the right to strike, protected women and children in industry, and granted workingmen’s accident compensation. Madero also uncensored the press, which led to harsh criticisms.

6. Madero Cont…
Because land reform was slow Madero lost support. Emiliano Zapata led a peasant revolt to claim their rights of land and water.
Although there was little land reform , Madero was able to build new schools, highways, and railroads, and even create a school lunch program for the poor.
José Victoriano Huerta Márquez, a general in both Diaz’s and Madero’s military, led a coup against Madero.

7. Madero into Huerta
Huerta usurped the presidency, in 1913, and had both Madero and his vice president arrested.
Huerta was not supported by The United States and President Wilson. Wilson asked Huerta to step aside.
When Huerta refused Wilson landed U.S. troops in Veracruz, Mexico’s most important sea port.

8. Huerta Cont…
Venustiano Carranza drafted the Plan of Guadalupe in response to Huerta’s usurpation, this plan called for the creation of a Constitutional Army to get rid of Huerta and restore a constitutional government.
This plan was supported by Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Alvaro Obregon. This alliance was unstable.
Huerta resigned his presidency on July 15, 1914.

9. Carranza
From Carranza had served as the governor of Coahulia. While governor he began many reforms such as legal codes and tax laws, he made large investments in education.
Carranza became the head of the Pre-constitutional Government from

10. Carranza Cont…
Both Villa and Zapata were not fully committed to the Plan of Guadalupe. Zapata, and his plan of Ayala, wanted more social reforms, which Carranza he specifically excluded from his plan.
By mid-1915 Carranza had defeated both the Zapatistas and the Division del Norte and Carranza was officially the president of Mexico.

11. Additions to the Plan of Guadalupe
Judicial reform: ensure an independent judiciary for Mexico.
Land Reform: The Ejido system, formerly communal lands which had been privately taken were to be returned to villages, very few lands were returned.

12. Constitutional Convention
In September of 1916, Carranza held a Constitutional Convention where it was declared that the 1857 Constitution of Mexico would be respected, but purged of it shortcomings.
The 1917 Constitution of Mexico was different from what Carranza imagined, however the executive power was increased and the legislative power was decreased.
Both Zapata and Villa were on the run so Carranza had little to no opposition for being elected president in 1917.
Many people were disappointed to see that Carranza’s Mexico wasn’t as liberal as he had promised it to be.
Carranza decided not to run for re-election in 1920, his natural successor was Alvaro Obregon .

13. Carranza and Obregon
Carranza wanted a non-military person to take over. He was unwilling to have Obregon take over.
April 8, 1920, Obregon attempted to have Carranza killed.
Obregon then drove Carranza out of Mexico City and was elected president.