The Mexican Revolution, spanning from 1910 to 1920, was a transformative period in Mexico’s history, marked by a struggle against longstanding social injustices and authoritarian rule. This decade-long conflict led to significant political and social reforms, reshaping the nation’s trajectory.
Key Figures and Their Roles
The Dictator: Porfirio Diaz
You can’t have a revolution without something to rebel against. Porfirio Diaz had kept an iron grip on power in Mexico since 1876. Under Diaz, Mexico prospered and modernized but the poorest Mexicans saw none of it. Poor peasants were forced to work for next to nothing and ambitious local landowners stole the land right out from under them. Diaz’ repeated electoral fraud proved to common Mexicans that their despised, crooked dictator would only hand over power at the point of a gun.
The Ambitious One: Fernando I. Madero
Francisco I. Madero, hailing from a wealthy family, emerged as a central figure by challenging Díaz in the 1910 presidential election. After being arrested and the election rigged in Díaz’s favor, Madero called for armed resistance, igniting the revolutionary movement. He assumed the presidency in 1911 but faced opposition from various factions, leading to his ousting and assassination in 1913.
The Idealist: Emiliano Zapata
Emiliano Zapata, a peasant from Morelos, became a symbol of agrarian reform through his leadership of the Liberation Army of the South. He championed land redistribution, encapsulated in his Plan de Ayala, advocating for returning land to disenfranchised farmers. Zapata’s unwavering commitment to social justice made him a revered figure among the rural poor.
Drunk With Power: Victoriano Huerta
Huerta, a raging alcoholic, was one of Diaz’ former generals and an ambitious man in his own right. He served Diaz in the early days of the revolution and then stayed on when Madero took office. As former allies like Pascual Orozco and Emiliano Zapata abandoned Madero, Huerta saw his change. Seizing on some fighting in Mexico City as an opportunity, Huerta arrested and executed Madero in February of 1913, seizing power for himself. With the exception of Pascual Orozco, the major Mexican warlords were united in their hatred of Huerta. An alliance of Zapata, Carranza, Villa, and Obregon brought Huerta down in 1914.
Pascual Orozco, the Muleteer Warlord
The Mexican Revolution was the best thing that ever happened to Pascual Orozco. A small-time mule driver and peddler, when the revolution broke out he raised an army and found he had a knack for leading men. He was an important ally for Madero in his quest for the presidency. Madero turned on Orozco, however, refusing to nominate the uncouth muleteer to an important (and lucrative) position in his administration. Orozco was furious and once again took to the field, this time-fighting 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, the Centaur of the North
When the revolution broke out, Pancho Villa was a small-time bandit and highwayman operating in northern Mexico. He soon took control of his band of cutthroats and made revolutionaries out of them. Madero managed to alienate all of his former allies except for Villa, who was crushed when Huerta executed him. 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, the Man Who Would Be King
Venustiano Carranza was another man who saw the lawless years of the Mexican Revolution as an opportunity. Carranza was a rising political star in his home state of Coahuila and was 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. Carranza eventually reached the presidency (officially this time) in 1917. In 1920, he foolishly double-crossed Obregon, who drove him from the Presidency and had him killed.
The Last Man Standing: Alvaro Obregon
Alvaro Obregon was an entrepreneur and landed farmer before the revolution and the only major figure in the revolution who prospered during the crooked Porfirio Diaz regime. He was, therefore, a latecomer to the revolution, fighting against Orozco on behalf of Madero. When Madero fell, Obregon joined with Carranza, Villa, and Zapata to bring down Huerta. Afterward, Obregon joined with Carranza to fight Villa, scoring a huge victory at the Battle of Celaya. He supported Carranza for President in 1917, on the understanding that it would be his turn next. Carranza reneged, however, and Obregon had him killed in 1920. Obregon was himself assassinated in 1928.
Pivotal Events
In December 1914, revolutionary leaders Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa united their forces and entered Mexico City, marking a significant moment in the revolution. Their alliance, formalized by the Pacto de Xochimilco, aimed to consolidate efforts against opposing factions. This collaboration was immortalized in a photograph taken at the National Palace, symbolizing their joint commitment to the revolutionary cause.
Consequences and Legacy
The Mexican Revolution led to substantial social and political changes, including land reforms and the establishment of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which dominated Mexican politics for much of the 20th century. The revolution’s emphasis on social justice and equality continues to influence Mexico’s cultural and political discourse.
External Resources
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