Decolonization and Independence Quiz

Nationalization and Economic Policies

• Nationalization in Cuba involved transferring land and industry from private ownership to the government under Fidel Castro.
• Cárdenas nationalized Mexico's oil industry to ensure the country could directly benefit from its resources.

Mexican Constitutional Reforms

• The Mexican Constitution of 1917 aimed to protect democratic governance by breaking up large estates, offering free education, and establishing minimum wage laws.
• It reinforced workers' rights by protecting the right to strike, enhancing labor conditions.

Political Dynamics in Mexico

• Benito Juarez's liberal reforms led to conflict between liberals and conservatives, highlighting ideological divides in Mexican society.
• The Institutional Revolutionary Party dominated Mexican politics for most of the twentieth century, shaping national policies.

Leadership and Governance

• Both Porfirio Diaz and Santa Anna served as dictators in Mexico, limiting democratic freedoms and instigating public dissent.
• The Mexican revolution of 1910 was sparked by Diaz's authoritarian rule, which suppressed democracy.

Modern Mexico - Successes and Challenges

• Contemporary Mexico has seen economic growth and the emergence of a growing middle class, but significant issues like persistent poverty and governmental corruption remain prevalent.

Socialism vs. Communism

• Socialism involves government provision of various services without complete control over personal lives, unlike communism, where the government exerts extensive control over citizens' lives.

Fidel Castro's Actions in Cuba

• After establishing a communist regime in 1959, Castro restricted civil liberties, nationalized the Cuban economy, banned private property sales, and censored the press, consolidating state power.