1. Many farmers had no land. Many farmers were poor. Poor farmers
experienced hunger, mistreatment,
and exploitation.
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2. A few wealthy families owned most of Mexico’s land.
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3. To make matters worse, the Mexican government was headed by a dictator.
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4. Porfirio Diaz became dictator in 1876
Porfirio Diaz became dictator in He ordered the executions of opponents, favored the wealthy, and encouraged foreign investments.
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5. He did not, however, help the poor.
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6. Francisco Madero was a reformer. He advocated democracy and change.
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7. Madero called for an uprising on November 20, 1910 when Diaz would not allow free elections.
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8. But some people wanted more than democracy
But some people wanted more than democracy. They wanted a redistribution of land. They wanted “tierra y libertad” or land and freedom.
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9. Emiliano Zapata encouraged small groups of peasant farmers to raid properties of large landowners. Emiliano Zapata wanted land redistribution.
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10. By 1910, small groups of poor farmers began raiding the properties of large landowners.
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11. Francisco “Pancho” Villa led revolutionaries in the northern part of Mexico while Zapata led an army in the south.
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12. By 1911, Madero was being harassed by the military and the wealthy but farmers who wanted land reform continued to fight.
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13. General Victoriano Huerta sided with the wealthy landowners and with the support of the army had Madero killed and took over the government in 1913.
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14. But with the help from U. S
But with the help from U.S. President Wilson, the revolutionaries forced Huerta to resign in 1914.
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15. By 1917, a constitution for a new democratic government was drawn up
By 1917, a constitution for a new democratic government was drawn up. In addition, the government took over large plantations and mines.
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16. Land was divided among the poor and a free public education plan was set up but large gaps between the rich and poor remained.
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17. The revolution had brought change but it had not changed everything.
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