Mexico Revolution
A fundamental shift in the governance of New Spain occurred as a result of the War of the Spanish Succession, when Bourbons replaced Habsburgs on the Spanish throne. Ruling by divine right, the Bourbon kings were enlightened despots whose major interests lay in increasing the economic returns from the Spanish Empire; they introduced many French practices and ideas into overseas administration. Having strung a series of mission-forts across northern Mexico, authorities in Madrid and Mexico augmented the few regular Spanish troops that could be spared from the peninsula by fostering a local militia with special exemptions granted to Creole officers. Napoleon Bonaparte occupied Spain in 1808, imprisoned King Ferdinand VII, and attempted unsuccessfully to impose his brother Joseph Bonaparte as monarch. Rebelling, the Spanish resurrected their long-defunct Cortes to govern as regent in the absence of the legitimate king, and, with representation from the overseas realms, the Cortes in 1812 promulgated a liberal constitution in the King's name. Continental events stimulated rivalries in Mexico as contradictory commands were being received from the mother country. On Sept. 16, 1810, Hidalgo issued th
Diaz was a big reason that a revolution was necessary in Mexico, but in his first 10 years as President, he made great advancements in society to better Mexico as a country. When Diaz came into power he focussed his presidential efforts towards making Mexico a part of the modern world. He believed strongly that Mexico's future depended on the modernization of society and foreign investment. Diaz headed the building of the nation's railway network and took steps towards increasing foreign trade markets for Mexico's mineral and agricultural products. While Mexico greatly prospered under his rule, Diaz lost sight of the average citizen and their needs. Diaz stressed a high rate of growth through scientific advancement regardless of its impact on the people. He favored the upper class landowners, increasing their properties by giving them Native American's land. The rich became richer along with the nation while the masses remained and became increasingly more impoverished. There was little class "jumping" since there was no land to be bought and debts of fathers were passed on to his children. Diaz exercised extreme control of the government; he did not allow elections in order to remain in power and made it so no one new was able to enter his government system unless they had ties with Diaz. Diaz's extreme views and lack of concern for the lower class, led to his demise. Many individuals grew to hate him and led campaigns against him but since Diaz did not allow popular elections, nothing serious came of it. In 1910 Diaz said he would allow an election. Francisco I. Madero had gathered a following and planned to run against Diaz. When Diaz realized that Madero was going to win the election he had him arrested and rigged the election. This enraged the people, not to mention Madero. Madero supporters protested President Diaz, rioting in the streets of Mexico. Madero was released shortly after the election and fled to San Antonio, Texas where he wrote a revolutionary document called "La Plan do San Luis Potosi." This document called for a violent revolt on November 20, 1910. Madero's boldness against Diaz sparked other revolutionaries to flex their muscles. "Pancho" Villa led protests and riots in the North while Emiliano Zapata led his army of farmers (the "Zapatistas") in the South. While Madero's planned revolt failed, however, it was useful in that it inspired other revolutionary groups to join forces. Revolutionary groups everywhere raided towns and government buildings and the Zapatistas even ventured to storm and take control of the town Cuantla, cutting off their roads to Mexico City. Diaz saw the destruction that his enemies had caused and feared f
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Approximate Word count = 1819
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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