Porfirio Diaz and Liberal Legacy

General Porfirio Diaz and the Liberal Legacy

Political Consolidation

• Porfirio Diaz's strong ties with the U.S. led to American imperialist efforts to control Mexico
• Britain and other European countries contributed to Mexico's development, including oil field development
• Diaz succeeded President Juarez, maintaining immense popularity and constant re-election
• Diaz tightened his control by appointing political allies as state governors
• Diaz's economic policies enabled Mexico to pay off its foreign debt

Economic Development

• Railroad construction improved communications and aided in modernizing Mexico
• Railroads boosted the economy and helped form a global economy by distributing goods and channeling capital
• Diaz attracted foreign investors by offering tax breaks, police protection, and land
• Foreign control over key economic sectors increased despite capital investment and development promotion
• Elites disregarded the lower classes, leading to peasant displacement in search of work and land

Agriculture

• Mexican businessmen led the transformation of agriculture by railroads and overseas commerce
• Federal government support for President Diaz's campaign suppressed peasant resistance
• The Yucatan Maya Indians' "Caste War" rebellion against local elites in the 1840s resulted in 300,000 deaths and enslavement
• The Porfiriato prioritized economic modernization without changing pre-modern social relations or concepts of justice
• Labor contractors recruited peasants, sometimes through deceptive tactics
• Rancheros' autonomy was threatened by governmental actions, leading to increased protests and violence
• Chihuahua became a center for revolutionary activity and civil war, due to rising discontent

Mining and Industry

• Liberal ideology in Mexico promoted federalism, democracy, and individual rights
• President Juarez abandoned liberal principles to consolidate presidential control
• Central government authority was increased and electoral victories were achieved through ballot stuffing.
• General Porfirio Diaz served in the army under President Benito Juarez, helping to drive out the French
• Diaz rebelled following Juarez's decision to run for re-election in 1871, initiating the Revolution of La Noria
• Fighting ended after Juarez's death, and Diaz became dictator of Mexico in 1876
• Diaz created political and economic instability, making Mexico vulnerable to foreign powers, utilizing violence, centralization, and electoral fraud
• Diaz facilitated commercial agriculture growth by enabling land acquisition and implementing high tariffs and restrictive labor practices
• Diaz heavily relied on loyalty in appointing federal judges
• A visible group of foreign capitalists (mostly American) received special accommodations within the flourishing mining economy
• Commercial agriculture expansion harmed peasant landowners, enabling foreign control over key sectors and political stability

Crisis and Revolution

Economic Crisis, Political Crisis, Francisco I. Madero and the Mexican Revolution

• Mexico faced food import issues due to declining export revenue
• Land was used for cotton, sugarcane, and henequen production instead of profitable food crops
• Lower-class Mexicans were endangered by malnutrition and starvation
• Diaz empowered foreign companies, giving them more power than the government, illustrated when troops killed Rio Blanco strikers

Political Crisis

• Diaz's aging presidency necessitated a successor, which he refused to name, spurring calls for a party system
• Diaz's initial statement that he would not run for re-election in 1910 was followed with him choosing to run again, despite political clubs and candidates forming
• Francisco Madero ran against Diaz, posing as a serious threat with his personal fortune, family pedigree, and good reputation but Diaz arrested him just before the re-election

Francisco I. Madero and the Mexican Revolution

• Upon release, Madero released "Plan de San Luis Potosi", calling for political reform while ignoring social and economic concerns
• It annulled Diaz's re-election and declared Madero provisional president
• Madero’s plan barely mentioned land reform, proposing to redress wrongs to landowners through legal channels
• Intended to fix the system, disappointing land-hungry peasants, unsettling the revolutionary coalition.

The Nation Responds

• Madero gained support from rebel groups after his failed election but it did not produce results
• He moved to New Orleans fearing capture, while rebel forces continued the revolution and the Diaz regime faced propaganda attacks
• Revolutionary activity near the U.S.-Mexican border caused Taft administration sent 20,000 troops to Rio Grande.
• Diaz thought this was U.S. support, but President Taft did not support the Diaz regime as villagers then joined the rebels' cause
• With successful rebel raids/attacks, and the rise of Emiliano Zapata and Pascual Orozco, Madero returned to Mexico, whose ideas differed from other rebel leaders' plans
• Revolution remained strong and weakend Diaz regime. Diaz fired unpopular governors, gave his VP leave, which rebels continued to take as meaning weakness
• Actions that Orozco would never forget occurred when Madero established a revolutionary government but didn't include Orozco in the cabinet.
• Social unrest led to a peace treaty between rebels and the Diaz regime, which favored the elite
• Madero made little effort to reform, working to stabilize the country, and told followers land reform would wait.
• Post-peace treaty, violence spread among revolutionaries, causing Madero to use federal armies to quell conflicts thus miners and social activists were disappointed in lack of support
• Madero dealt with countryside problems, ordering land disputes to be handled in court, angering supporters who hoped for land reform
• Zapata demanded Madero commit to reform, but Madero wouldn’t so Zapata and forces retreated to mountains and Madero ordered army to attack
• Madero still won but in landslide elections although many candidates unexpectedly ran, and Congress was split
• With power, Madero put former elites in power and his family in cabinet positions, thus with these actions, angered many rebels began to threaten to overthrow him
• Orozco helped lead the revolt, advocating for original revolution goals along with limiting child labor, improved wages, nationalized railroads, threatening Madero, yet Madero would not negotiate

Counterrevolution

Huerta in Power

• Francisco I. Madero relied greatly on the federal army and counter-revolutionaries had various backgrounds with three leading revolutionaries: General Bernardo Reyes, General Felix Diaz, as well as General Victoriano Huerta

The Coup Against Madero

• Bernardo Reyes' campaign/coup attempt failed 1912 and he was arrested City of Mexico
• General Felix Diaz got some Mexican elites support, with hopes to revert strict social/economic policies for high industrial production/low costs
• Both Reyes and Diaz escaped prison, launching presidential palace assault. Reyes was killed and Huerta, released from prison, was made commander of federal forces
• Huerta negotiated with Diaz during Decena Tragica, then united, drafted government/overthrew Madero with Henry Lane Wilson
• It was promised Madero/VP would get safe passage to Mexico, but Huerta arranged their deaths during an alleged "crossfire"
• Huerta consolidated power via force/negotiations and was unpopular, getting support overseas and US friendly

US Involvement

• President Taft sent battleships to protect oil fields near Tampico
• President Wilson opposed political intervention, although Henry Lane Wilson helped Victoriano Huerta & Felix Diaz draft a government with a political plan

Wilson's Gambit

• There was much uncertainty about General Victoriano C. Huerta across Mexico and other countries due to Wilson wanting to legitimize his leadership
• Huerta led an anti US propaganda movement in Mexico to react to lack of support, oppressed political opponents, controlling the media, and killing outspoken senators
• Huerta abolished Congress, ordering arrest of opposing senators, which resulted in 101 arrests and still gained support of the elergy, land barrens, military, and Great Britain for Porfirio style dictatorship
• Under US pressure, Britain abandoned Huerta
• Wilson tried to aid anti-Huerta leader to overthrow the dictator and after US soldiers were detained, invaded Mexico and took control of Veracruz
• Although WIlson still wanted to coerce Carranza to cooperate but it only strengthened Carranza to avoid US and he pulled out US forces but left arms for the rebels
• Wilson sent troops to defeat Villistas with conflict increasing Villa popularity and anti-Americanism
• It was probable USA would intervene thus needed approval of Carranza, however despite best efforts Americans couldn't capture Villa
• Carranza finally insisted Am forces leave so Wilson withdrawed with clashes between US & Carranza thus damage Washington's relationship w/ Carranza

Northern Revolutionaries and the Fall of Huerta

Venustiano Carranza, Constitutional Movement, The Sonorans

• Huerta almost became legitimate president because elites valued stability and private property
• Carranza came from rich family and rose to power under Diaz but his bid for governor 1908 was shot down
• He backed Madero in 1910, joined him in exile, was instated as governor, improving regulations and public education while rigging elections, taxing foreign companies
• After Huerta killed Madero, Carranza put out Guadalupe Plan to reject Huerta, call himself interim president, with no plan to reform, and unable to recruit army from Coahuilan peasants
• Huerta’s army put Carranza in nearby state of Sonora where anti Huerta movement became concentrated

The Sonorans

• Sonora was traditionally isolated from Mexico, before foreign investment in mining/ag led to economic boom
• Sonoran elites rebelled against authoritarian gov w majority supporting Madero
• Majority supported Madero because they had hope for reforms and wealthy Maderista focused on the increasing power
• The Sonoran army mainly only served as support, however they were given higher salaries
• Post dictator Sonoran elite took power without much Gov changes
• Prior to dictator, miners went on strikes and were brutally oppressed from 1912 under the leadership

Resistance against Huerta

• Sonoran Maderista considered recognition Huerta to preserve stability, however militant action from peasants/miners who believed Huerta would cause dictatorship forced to denounce him
• the Sonorans joined Carranza and the Constitutionalists creating powerful army under lead. and drove forces out area