5.1 Causes and key figures of the Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution emerged from deep-rooted social, economic, and political issues plaguing the country. Extreme inequality, land concentration, and political oppression under Porfirio Díaz's dictatorship created a powder keg of discontent among the Mexican people.

Key figures like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata led revolutionary armies, fighting for land reform and social justice. Their efforts, along with revolutionary plans like the Plan de San Luis Potosí and Plan de Ayala, ignited a nationwide uprising that would reshape Mexico's future.

Factors Leading to the Mexican Revolution

Factors leading to Mexican Revolution

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• Social factors
  • Extreme inequality between wealthy elite and impoverished masses created a stark divide in Mexican society
  • Peasants and indigenous communities experienced exploitation through unfair labor practices and land dispossession
  • Majority of population lacked access to basic services like education and healthcare, perpetuating the cycle of poverty
• Economic factors
  • Land ownership was highly concentrated among a few wealthy landowners (hacendados), leaving many without property rights
  • Labor exploitation through low wages and poor working conditions kept workers in a state of economic hardship
  • Foreign control over key industries (mining, agriculture) limited Mexico's economic sovereignty and development
  • Economy stagnated due to lack of investment in critical areas such as infrastructure and industrialization
• Political factors
  • Porfirio Díaz's dictatorship (Porfiriato) lasted over three decades, leading to political stagnation and oppression
  • Political opposition was suppressed, and democratic processes were largely absent, fueling discontent among the people
  • Government corruption and nepotism favored the interests of the elite and foreign investors over the needs of the Mexican people
  • Díaz's favoritism towards foreign investors came at the expense of the Mexican people's well-being and economic opportunities

Impact of Porfiriato period

• Wealth and power became increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small elite, exacerbating social and economic inequalities
• Indigenous communities were dispossessed from their ancestral lands, disrupting their traditional ways of life and livelihoods
• Living conditions deteriorated for the majority of the population, as poverty, exploitation, and lack of access to resources persisted
• Political dissent was suppressed, and freedom of expression was curtailed, creating an atmosphere of fear and oppression
• Resentment grew among the masses towards the Díaz regime, as the people yearned for social justice, economic opportunities, and political change
• Opposition movements and revolutionary ideas emerged, challenging the status quo and calling for a fundamental transformation of Mexican society
• Demand for social justice, land reform, and political change increased, setting the stage for the revolutionary uprising

Key Figures and Revolutionary Plans

Roles of revolutionary figures

• Pancho Villa
  • Led the Division of the North, a powerful revolutionary army that fought for land reform and social justice for peasants and working class
  • Employed guerrilla warfare tactics against the federal army, showcasing his military prowess and strategic thinking
  • Became a legendary figure and symbol of the revolutionary struggle, inspiring many to join the cause for change
• Emiliano Zapata
  • Led the Liberation Army of the South based in Morelos, fighting for the rights and well-being of the peasants and indigenous communities
  • Advocated for "Land and Liberty" (Tierra y Libertad), demanding land redistribution to the peasants as a fundamental right
  • Issued the Plan de Ayala, which called for the restoration of land to indigenous communities, challenging the existing land ownership structure
  • Fought against the Díaz regime and later against the revolutionary government that failed to implement the promised land reforms

Significance of revolutionary plans

• Plan de San Luis Potosí
  • Issued by Francisco I. Madero in 1910, the plan called for the overthrow of the Díaz regime, marking the beginning of the Mexican Revolution
  • Declared the 1910 presidential elections fraudulent and void, challenging the legitimacy of Díaz's rule
  • Called for a national uprising on November 20, 1910, mobilizing the people to take action against the oppressive government
  • Promised land reform and democratic elections, gaining widespread support among the population who yearned for change
• Plan de Ayala
  • Issued by Emiliano Zapata in 1911, the plan demanded land reform and the restoration of land to indigenous communities
  • Rejected the presidency of Francisco I. Madero, who had failed to implement the promised land reforms, holding the revolutionary government accountable
  • Called for the redistribution of one-third of the land held by hacendados to the peasants, addressing the issue of land inequality
  • Became a key document in the revolutionary struggle, particularly in the southern states of Mexico, where land rights were a central concern