The Development of mexico

the mexican-american war

• Caused political unrest
• Allowed for the political overtaking of the caudillo General Lopez de Santa Anna
• Defeat in the war caused many Mexicans to reevaluate their current way of life

La Reforma

• Liberal Reform led by President Benito Juarez.
• Aimed to limit the power of the military and the Roman Catholic church
• Juarez and his followers wanted to create a rural middle class.
• Drafted a Constitution.

la constitucion de 1857

• Set forth ideals of La Reforma
• Restricted the freedoms of priests and military elites.
• Guaranteed universal male suffrage, along with other rights like freedom of speech
• Spurred land reform efforts that aimed at dismantling corporate properties.

REason for Revolution

• Porfirio Diaz was a dictator who highly favored the rich classes.
• He represented the interests of large landowners and foreign investors
• Established railroads and telegraph lines
• Brought a lot of industry to Mexico, but all the wealth returned to the gentry and foreign investors

Pre-revolution

• Juarez tried to suspend loan payments from foreign powers in order to boost Mexico's economy.
• This angered Europeans who intervened to protect their financial interests.
• Napoleon III tried to establish a Mexican empire, but had to soon withdraw his troops.

la revolucion

• Peasants and middle class workers joined forces to overthrow the rich gentry.
• Led by Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa.
• Fought for "tierra y libertad"
• Zapata confiscated hacienda lands and began to distribute wealth
• 1919 Zapata Executed

Effects of Revolution

• Revolution ended with the death of Zapata in 1919
• Allowed for the legacy of the Constitution.
• Although it was not implemented immediately, the Constitution would provide important guarantees for the future.