Definition of Mexican Revolution

After its independence from Spain in 1824, Mexico suffered a long period of upheaval politics And social. The Law Lerdo of 1856 declared the church lands uncultivated and as a consequence many peasants lost their lands in the hands of powerful landowners.

During the long term of Porfirio Diaz, the expropriation of land continued and this caused the unrest of the peasants and indigenous communities. This situation finally led to massive strikes in 1906. Militant workers and miners opposed Porfirio Diaz's policy. At the same time, the businessman Francisco Madero led a movement politician to overthrow the old man Porfirio Diaz, but he manipulated the 1909 elections and Madero had to go into exile. From exile he called for the rebellion of the Mexican people.

In this way, in 1910 several Mexican states took up arms against the Porfirio Diaz regime. It is in this context that some leaders emerge, including the legendary Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.

The Mexican Revolution began after the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz

Porfirio Diaz's military forces were attacked in the north and south of the country by groups of armed peasants who claimed the lands that had been seized in the past. In 1910 Porfirio Diaz had to resign when he found himself cornered and Francisco Madero assumed the presidency of Mexico. This episode is considered the beginning of the Revolution Mexican. Although the movement led by Madero ended the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz, popular discontent was on the rise and the revolutionaries continued their struggle demanding land and freedom.

The revolutionary armies of Zapata and Villa were defeated

Between 1911 and 1912, the army of Emiliano Zapata faced Madero's troops and managed to recover the expropriated lands. In 1913 Pancho Villa's army occupied several cities in Mexico. Meanwhile, the conservative Victoriano vegetable plot staged a coup and assumed absolute power. This sparked an alliance between Zapata, Villa and other revolutionary caudillos that finally got the removal of Victoriano Huerta as president of the nation.

Shouting for land and freedom, the revolutionaries led by Zapata and Villa increased their combat actions, but the political leaders Venustiano Carranza and Álvaro Obregón allied to form a constitutionalist bloc and ended up defeating Villa's army in 1915 and that of Zapata in 1916.

In 1920 the peace and the aspirations of the revolutionaries were finally achieved between 1934 and 1940 during the mandate of Lázaro Cárdenas.

As a consequence of the revolutionary process, Venustiano Carranza was appointed president and in 1917 a new Constitution in which a regulation on land is proposed in order to satisfy the aspirations of the poorest classes. However, the expected social reforms were not implemented and Carranza had Zapata assassinated in 1919 and Villa was secluded in Chihuahua.

Álvaro Obregón continued to support the demands of the popular classes and when his former ally (Venustianao Carranza) was assassinated, he assumed the position of president of the nation. In the same year, 1920, peace was finally achieved, but the revolutionary demands (very especially agrarian reform) did not become a reality until the following decade during the Lazaro Cardenas.

Photos: Fotolia - vladimirfloyd / oneinchpunch