The Mexican Revolution

1. The Mexican Revolution By: Alejandro Hernandez

2. Why? • The Mexican Revolution started because of the disagreement between the Mexican people and the dictatorship of President Porfirio Diaz. President Diaz was in office for over 30 years, this period of time was called the Porfiriato. President Diaz violated many principles and ideas of the Mexican Constitution of 1857. He established the “No Re-election” policy but terminated it later and became the dictator of Mexico.

3. When? • The Mexican Revolution too place between 1910 and 1920. It was 10 full years of rebellions and uprisings throughout the country by Mexican citizens. Although several small outbreaks still occurred after 1920, things did settle down after many wars and rebellious attacks.

4. Important Figures • Porfirio Diaz- President of Mexico who served seven terms, which totaled nearly three decades. His presidency start from around 1876 and ended when he was overthrown in 1911. • Fernando I. Madero- Challenged President Diaz in the 1910 elections but was arrested by Diaz and had the election stolen from him. He fled the country and declared that the revolution would start in November of 1910. His presidency from 1911 lasted only to 1913 when his betrayal and execution took place. • Emiliano Zapata- Zapata was known as an idealist, he had a very clear vision for a new Mexico, one in which the poor had rights to their land and were treated with respect as farmers and workers.He was an implacable enemy and fought against Diaz, Madero, Huerta, Obregon and Carranza. • Victoriano Huerta-He was one of Diaz’ former generals. He served in the early days of the revolution and stayed when Madero took office. He later arrested and executed Madero in 1913. Huerta was brought down by an alliance of Zapata, Carranza, Villa, and Obregon.

5. Important Figures • Pascual Orozco- He raised an army when the revolution broke out and found out he was a good leader. He was an ally of Madero in his quest to presidency but Madero turned on him and Orozco began to fight Madero. Orozco was still very powerful in 1914, when he supported Huerta. Huerta was defeated, however, and Orozco went into exile in the USA. He was shot and killed by Texas Rangers in 1915. • Pancho Villa- He made revolutionaries out of his band of bandits. In 1914-1915 Villa was the most powerful man in Mexico, and could have seized the presidency had he so wished, but he knew he was no politician. After the fall of Huerta, Villa fought against the uneasy alliance of Obregon and Carranza. • Venustiano Carranza- Hewas elected to the Mexican Congress and Senate before the revolution. He supported Madero, but when Madero was executed and the whole nation fell apart, Carranza saw his chance. He named himself President in 1914 and acted as if he were. He fought anyone who said otherwise and allied himself with the ruthless Alvaro Obregon. • Alvaro Obregon- When Madero fell, Obregon joined with Carranza, Villa and Zapata to bring down Huerta. Afterwards, Obregon joined with Carranza to fight Villa, scoring a huge victory at the Battle of Celaya. Carranza reneged, however, and Obregon had him killed in 1920. Obregon was assassinated in 1928.

6. What? • The Mexican Revolution was recognized as the first major political, social, and cultural revolution of the 20th century. It officially began in 1910 after Francisco I. Madero overthrew Porfirio Diaz. Madero drafted the Plan de San Luis Potosi, which was supported rebels throughout Mexico. It was in north Chihuahua where a large armed struggle sparked uprisings across the country. Zapata started recruiting thousands of “peasants” in 1909 to fight for land reform. Many wars, battles, rebellions, and uprisings occurred during this long revolution. Trust between leaders was very little, most of them were arrested or executed by leaders that they supported.

7. The Battle of Zacatecas • The Battle of Zacatecas was one of the key engagements of the Mexican Revolution. After General Huerta had removed Francisco Madero from power and ordered his execution, he had seized the presidency. His grasp on power was weak, however, because the rest of the major players like PanchoVilla, Emiliano Zapata, Alvaro Obregón and Venustiano Carranza were allied against him. After two days of skirmishing, Villa's artillerymen began bombarding the El BufoSierpe, Loreto and El Grillo hills at about 10 a.m. on June 23, 1914. Villa and Angeles sent elite infantry to capture La Bufa and El Grillo. When La Bufa was taken, the federal forces cracked. Knowing that Villa would definitely execute all officers, and probably most enlisted men as well, the federals panicked. Officers ripped off their uniforms even as they tried to fight off Villa's infantry, who had entered the city. The crushing defeat at Zacatecas was a death blow for Huerta.

8. Purpose of the Revolution • The initial purpose of the revolutionary movement was to overthrow General Porfirio Diaz who had been in power form more thank 30 years.

9. Important Dates • November 10, 1910- A date is set for Sunday. The Serdan Brothers along with other Madero followers fight the police in the City of Puebla. This marks the beginning of the armed war. • May 25, 1911- President Porfirio Diaz resigns after 30 years in power. • November 6, 1911- President Francisco I Madero took office after winning the elections in October 1911. • February 22, 1913- President Madero was assassinated by orders of Victoriano Huerta. • July 15, 1914- President Victoriano Huerta resings and leaves the country. • December 6, 1914- Zapata and Villa occupy Mexico City and march with a force of 50 thousand men. • May 1, 1917- VenustianoCarranza assumes the Mexican Presidency.

10. Slogans and Casualties Slogans: • "SufragioEfectivo No Reelección" Francisco I Madero Effective Suffrage (Vote) No Reelection • "La Tierra esde Quien la Trabaja" Emiliano Zapata The land is property of those who work it. Casualties: • There is not an exact number of casualties due to the revolutionary war but it is calculated that between 1 and 2 million people died.

11. Porfirio Diaz Fernando I. Madero Emiliano Zapata Victoriano Huerta Pascual Orozco Pancho Villa Venustiano Carranza Alvaro Obregon