Porfirios: The Mexican American Revolution

The Mexican Revolution, which lasted from about 1910 to 1930, ended the dictatorship in Mexico and established a constitutional republic. Revolutionaries including Madero, Zapata and Villa led various groups that fought in a long and costly war. Although a constitution was drafted in 1917, periodic violence continued into the 1930’s. Political oppression led people, like Madero, to organize and revolt against an unjust government. The action of taking away native land from the natives was another step towards the advancement of the revolution. Before the war, people were deprived of their freedom to press and speech, and all was a result of the dictatorship of the Porfiriato. Porfirio Diaz, former president of Mexico, held the position of a dictator, not precisely a president. During his presidency, Diaz was interviewed by an American journalist. “In 1908 Porfirio Diaz was interviewed by US journalist James Creelman. In the interview Diaz stated that he believed Mexico would be ready for free elections by 1910” (Mexican Revolution). When the publication of the interview hit Francisco Madero’s
knowledge, he organized people to back him up politically speaking and defeat Diaz in the 1910 presidential elections. Madero gathered a large amount of people that were inspired by his promises. When Diaz found out about Madero running for president, Diaz rigged the system and imprisoned Madero. Madero was soon released and fled to modern day Texas. During Madero’s flee from Mexico, he claimed himself president of Mexico and denied Diaz of his presidency.
In Texas, he wrote “a revolutionary document, La Plan de San Luis Potosi. This plan called for a violent revolt on November 20, 1910. The revolt failed but inspired other revolutionary groups to band together” (Mexican Revolution). Likewise, General Carranza supported the movement of Madero during his presidency. When Madero was assassinated, Gen. Carranza opposed Huerta’s future presidency by writing “the Plan de Guadalupe” (Faces). Inside of the plan were callings for the return of the Constitution of 1857, which led for him and his followers to be nicknamed “constitutionalists.” After Huerta resigned presidency, Carranza claimed it and drafted a new constitution, which is in part used in modern day Mexico. He then was elected president in May
1917. Emiliano Zapata formed the Zapatista movement. He and Francisco “Pancho” Villa fought together in different regions of Mexico. Zapata and his men fought in the south of Mexico while Villa and his men fought in the north.