Chapter 21: The Restored Republic: Nascent Modernization PDF

Printed by: quinn.smid!@avc:.edu. Printing is for pcil80D8l, privare uso only. No part of1his book may bci npn,dua,d or tnmsmitb:d without pabliahcr'a prior permisaion. VIOl.a1ms will be proeec:uted. CHAPTER...

Printed by: quinn.smid!@avc:.edu. Printing is for pcil80D8l, privare uso only. No part of1his book may bci npn,dua,d or tnmsmitb:d without pabliahcr'a prior permisaion. VIOl.a1ms will be proeec:uted. CHAPTER 21 THE RESTORED REPUBLIC: NASCENT MODERNIZATION odem Mexican history begins with the liberal vlaory of I 867.1 In a very real sense M the republic became a nation. Concerned witb>the growth of political democracy in Mexico, Ju4rez and his republican cohons would uy for a decade to consolidate their viaory by implementing the lener and spirit of the Constitution of 1857 and, at the same,tlme. by setting Mexico on the path of modemiza1ion. The sailing was far from smooth, but ihe politic.al process showed signs of maturation. The scars from the recent wan of the reform and the intervention were deep; liq_erals set out to inaugurate a new era of peace and mate- rial progress. Mexicans had to ovefrome the deeply engrained suspicion that differences of opinion. ideology, and practical politics should inevitably be settled cy force rather than by reason. And while all antagonisms did not dissipate during tbe1restoration. bellicosity became less of a reflex ~on. More important, this nine-year..p_pid established the guide- lines for lhe profound changes that would occur in Mexico ,during the last quarter of the nineteenth century; JUJ.RE Z' S THIRD TERM In mal'ked contra.st to Maximilian's en~ ' iin o Mexico City in his ornate European car- nag/in 1864, Juarez entered the c.api,alpn July 15, 1867, in a stark black coach. Cheers welled up from the thousands who ljr!ed the streets. His reception was triumphant, but although Juarez enjoyed the display Qi camaraderie and goodwill. he recognized that it was no time to rest on past laurels. He immediately called for presidential eleaions, announcing himself as a candidate for a third term. Under the circumstances, few knowledgeable politi- cians believed that a thlrd term was excessive. Most of the first two had been spent on the run with virrua.lly no chance of implementing a progressive program. While preparing himself fortbe elections, the president undertook an important political reform. In order to manifest I Daniel Cosio Villegas. ed. Historia madema de Mtrico, 9 vols. (Mexico City, Mexico, 1955-72). The first iJuee volumes ueal the. restored rq,ubUc.. 300 Printed by: [email protected]. Printing is for pmcma1, priva&e me only. No part of'lhis book may be reprodnced or transmitted without publisher's prior permisaii>n. Violatvn will be prosec:utcd.  11,~ Resrored Republi,; 30 1 the primacy of civilian ove:r military rule, he reduced the si2osJorua1.\lexico tl1ld ('eru. Berkeley: University ofC.1Ilfomfa Press. 1995. Scholtt., W.ilte.r V. Me.rit.im /)ollu,:s durint rh, Jwlra ~1~. I 85S- 1872. Columbi,1 Un1vcr~hy of Missouri Pms. 1957. Sl n, Richard N Tl1r. Mcxv:im R.-form, I /lSS- ~6: A Slwly /,r 1./b,m/ N11rlon 8utl1lln! AtL,iin, I')(; lnSI i1u1r orL11in American SLUdats. 1979. Sltllln, aurles Allen. Vim /udli!z! Londo.N-'K: Eyre and Sporti.,.""'3e. 1964. Thomson, Cuy I'. C. wilh D,vid C:. l..lf"rnnce Artr/orlsrn, Pol/r/Q, u11d f\,pvl11r WM li.J111 In N111,recnlh- s,,,,.-.,_ O,nwry M,x/r.,x /uan franrua, I..Ju:.b an,/ r/i, l'uL/JI" WUn1ing1on, DE.: Schol.u!y llesources. 1999. V nderwood, Paul ·cenesis of lhe Rurales: Mexico's £adyS1ruggle for Public Security.' 1-1/spanicAmeria,n /-lmoraca/ Rw,rw S0/2 ( 1970); 323-44 \\'eelcs, Charles A. n,, /udrn Mytlr m Alrxu:o, 'lu.,c.tloos.,· University of Alabama Press, 1987.