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MEXICAN REVOLUTION.
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Essay Subject:
Causes & effects of 1910 revolution. Leadership, politics, role of peasants & women, creation of Constitution in 1917.... More...

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Paper Abstract:
Causes & effects of 1910 revolution. Leadership, politics, role of peasants & women, creation of Constitution in 1917.

Paper Introduction:
An important feature of the Mexican Revolution was its broad base of support. Revolution was brought about because, after more than 30 years in power, Porfirio Diaz succeeded in disenfranchising almost all socioeconomic groups who were not members of the power elite. Revolution occurs when individuals are pressed to the limits of their endurance; such a situation existed in Mexico under Diaz, which explains why so many segments of society risked personal safety to participate. Diaz pandered to foreign influence to such an extent that being a Mexican became a disadvantage, particularly the more than ninety percent mixed breed Indian population. The government regarded itself as superior to the common people: "The government must be an aristocracy, an aristocracy of brains, technicians, wise and upright elders, scientists" (Brenner, 1971,

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Women from the lower and middleclasses participated in marches in support of the Revolution. As if foreign intrusion were not enough, Diaz'sadministration made radical changes that even stripped Mexican citizens oftheir sense of national identity. The workers wantedjob security, the right to organize, and other labor rights: "Mexicanlabor, considered inferior biologically, had its wages fixed accordingly"(Brenner, 1971, p. Internet:http://ac.acusd.edu/History/projects/ border/page 6.html.----------------------- 3 The government regarded itself as superiorto the common people: "The government must be an aristocracy, anaristocracy of brains, technicians, wise and upright elders, scientists"(Brenner, 1971, p. Many village and tribal holdings had been handed over" (Brenner,1971, p. 26). Although there was a considerable lag time between the drafting ofthe progressive principles in the Constitution of 1917 and the realizationof its promises, the Mexican Revolution set the country on a course ofsocial commitment. An even greater numberof people were injured and lost their livelihoods. In addition, the Constitution placed allland, water, and other natural resources under government control. Women were both activist and militant. Some Mexican women even heldleadership positions on the battlefield. And Mexicans from the lower classes fought forbasic rights. 27). An important feature of the Mexican Revolution was its broad base ofsupport. Diaz pandered to foreign influence to such an extent that being aMexican became a disadvantage, particularly the more than ninety percentmixed breed Indian population. Citizens from all walks of life were affected by theConstitution's reforms in the areas of labor, land, and education. One of the key features was the erosion of the power of the CatholicChurch: "The legislation confiscated church property, denied the clergythe right to vote or discuss politics in public, and even forbade nuns andpriests to appear in public in clerical garb" (Hellman, 1994, p. Stationed at thefront lines of battle, women functioned as both supporters and as fighters,as this description of a battle between the military and Mexican Indiantroops attests: "When the fight began, the Yahquis lay each one in atrench-hole with his wife and children, who kept handing him a reloaded gunas fast as one was finished; and if he was wounded or killed, theycontinued firing" (Brenner, 1971, p. 46). Peasants, most of whom were sharecroppers andrenters, were concerned about land ownership: "the peasants--more thanthree-fourths of the population--had been stripped of land by laws whichgave the hacendados more leeway for expansion, more water, more cheaplabor. (1999). 52). The Constitution of 1917 also guaranteed rights for Mexican workers.Provisions such as minimum wage, overtime, workday restrictions, and theright to organize and strike were included. Chief among the agitators of the Mexican Revolution were the FloresMagon brothers. Theseincluded demands for better pay and working conditions. Revolution occurs whenindividuals are pressed to the limits of their endurance; such a situationexisted in Mexico under Diaz, which explains why so many segments ofsociety risked personal safety to participate. The nature of opposition that developed against Diaz was trulymulticlass. 5 ). Land was another area of progressive ideology expressed in theConstitution of 1917. The elites who not a part of the Diaz clique were fighting fortheir share of Mexico's prosperity. Although they lived in exile in the United States, theywere extremely proactive in plotting the overthrow of the Diazdictatorship. 51).Previously, the Church had chief responsibility for elementary andsecondary education in Mexico; after the Revolution a system of stateeducation was established in which generations of Mexicans throughout thecountry were socialized in revolutionary ideology. Along with land, the Constitution provided for the natural and socialresources needed by the peasants to make the land productive. The Mexican Revolution was aparticularly violent struggle: "in 191 Mexico counted a population ofonly 14.5 million people, and as many as 1.5 million Mexicans lost theirlives over the next decade" (Hellman, 1994, p. The Mexican Revolution ended only after a result of decades ofstruggle. As a result, the Mexican economy suffered a severe disruptionwhich left many dead from starvation and malnutrition. The gains of the Mexican Revolution had widespread albeit gradualresults. A system was set up for the restoration of land tothe peasants: "These grants were to be made from the expropriation anddistribution of the haciendas of the landed oligarchy" (Hellman, 1994, p.53). Hellman, J. Senora Flores and otherwomen supported the Revolution by collecting supplies and ammunition, andharboring fugitives fleeing the oppression of the dictatorship. In the longer term, however, peasants and workers benefitted fromConstitutional guarantees. As a resultof Diaz's single-minded pursuit of foreign capital, Mexico became a nationinfiltrated by foreign influence: "by the early twentieth century, thebanks were 94 percent foreign-owned, and electric power, most large miningenterprises, and the railroads were all controlled by foreign companies"(Hellman, 1994, p. Revolution was brought about because, after more than 3 years inpower, Porfirio Diaz succeeded in disenfranchising almost all socioeconomicgroups who were not members of the power elite. The objective of theorganization "was to fight for liberal ideals and to establish branches ofthe womans club in all parts of the states that would carry on an intensepropaganda" (Women's Involvement, 1999, p. Of particular note is Senora Flores deAndrade who established a semi-secret organization, a sort of conspiracycenter, that worked with the Flores Magon Brothers. Entire villages weredestroyed. (1994). Austin: University of Texas Press. Womenintellectuals wrote and distributed revolutionary publications. Toward this end, he ruthlessly repressed politicaldissidents, manipulated municipal elections, and established a brutalpolice force (rurales) that terrorized the peasant population. The power ofthe Mexican government to control the activities of foreign capital in thepublic interest was established. Although agriculture had flourished under the Diazadministration, few of the benefits had flowed to the peasant population,who contended with water and food shortages on a daily basis. Peasant armies were led by revolutionary heroes like Emiliano Zapata. 45). Mexican women played a significant role in the Mexican Revolutionbecause of their direct involvement in the fight for political advancement. The importance of the demands made by the revolutionaries is evidentby the risks they took to secure change. During the years following, Mexico was ruled by a mixed bag ofconservatives, reactionaries, moderate progressives, and counter-revolutionaries. Child labor was restricted.Women's issues like maternity leave, work during pregnancy, and comparablepay were addressed. (1971). Members of the middle-class werefighting because Diaz's policies stifled all hope of economic opportunityand political participation: "The political fact of monopoly--dictatorship--meant for those who lived by their brains few and fewer bottlenecked jobs"(Brenner, 1971, p. Otherstraveled across the border to the United States to speak out for therevolution and generate support. Some question whether the Revolution, which promised somuch, actually delivered anything of substance to the millions of peoplewho participated in it and gave their lives. There was broad support for reforms in the areas ofeducation, military conscription, freedom of speech, and the repressionarytactics of the rurales. The peasantsand workers, who represented the greatest number of casualties because ofthe Revolution, continued to be relegated to relative positions ofpowerlessness. The greatest gains were realized by the upper and middle classeswho aligned themselves with the new regime: "gains made by peasant armieslike those led by Zapata were undermined or neutralized by the manipulationof politicians who represented the aspirations of landowners,industrialists, and the middle class" (Hellman, 1994, p. Mexico's new constitution was ratified in 1917. 2). References Brenner, A. 25). Provisions were also made for social security,disability insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance. Mexican lives. Zapata's army included peasants, former prisoners, andprofessionals. The wind that swept Mexico: The history of theMexican revolution. The power of the Catholic Church was another keyissue in the demands made by Mexico's revolutionaries. The slogan of the Zapatista revolutionary army was "Land and Liberty."Zapata operated independently of other revolutionaries and advocatedimmediate direct action: "The [Zapatistas's] first act on raiding anhacienda or municipal center was sharp and symbolic; they got to the safeand destroyed all papers dealing with land titles, and then invited theneighborhood peasants to homestead on the hacienda lands" (Brenner, 1971,p. Peasants and workers focused their demands on labor issues. Thus,the Mexican Revolution reaped considerable benefits for those who riskedtheir lives to participate. 49). 1 ). They were instrumental in distributing copies of radicalpublications that stimulated revolutionary thought among the masses. Women also played a key role in the battlefield. To encourage foreigners to regard Mexico as a landof opportunity, Diaz realized he had to make his country appear a safehaven for business. TheConstitution represented an extremely progressive approach to labor issues. New York: New Press, 1994.Women's involvement in the Mexican Revolution.

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