Mexican Culture

Many people used to think that their heritage means nothing to them, but for me it means a lot. Growing up my family would always talk in Spanish or they would talk about how they love being Mexican, but I never fully understood why being Mexican was so important to my family. One day I decided to sit down with my parents, and ask them why is our Mexican heritage so important? They would tell me all sorts of stories such as: how they were apart of a dance group called Ballet Folklorico De Topeka, my mom would always tell me how she likes listening/singing to music. Me personally Mexican music is so much better than songs in English. Why I say that is because Mexican music is so much more poetic.

The aftermath of the war had great affects on Mexico's and Americas government. The war officially ended on February 2, 1848, when Mexico agreed to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The terms of the treaty were set by the United States after winning the war, the treaty added land the makes up present day Arizona, California, New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Utah , and Wyoming. Additionally, the U.S paid $15 million and

To begin, let’s go back the start of Mexico’s independence: “Mexico” was declared in 1821, and the Spanish crown lost control after the Mexican War for Independence (Menchaca 161). As a result of Mexico’s independence, the ownership of power was given to the Mexican people. This led to immediate socio-political and territorial changes. Mexico’s war for independence was inspired by the Catholic priest known as Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. After his call for action against the Spanish in the town of Dolores, Mexico, also known as the “Cry of Dolores,” the people of Mexico united to rebel against the Spanish (Acuña 40). This led to an eleven year war to achieve independence. That very first day of the revolution will always hold symbolic meaning in the eyes of the Mexican people: 16 September 1810. Alas, Mexico was left with the debris of 300 years of Spanish control following their immediate

Mexico was declared independent in 1821 following a series of revolts and political turmoil due to Spanish colonial rule. The independent land of Mexico sought to secure its borders against illegal American

Porfirio Diaz was the president of Mexico when the Revolution broke out. He was elected in 1877, and although he swore to step down in 1880, he continued to be reelected until 1910. He claimed that he was justified in this because he brought stability to Mexico. However, this was hardly the case. Diaz's regime aimed to industrialize Mexico, and foreign investors such as the United States and Britain

1857 and the Laws of the Reform. With Benito Juarez’s victory over Emperor Maximiliano and

After the victory there was a split between the two revolution leaders due to differences in direction for Mexico. The Constitutionalist

The Mexican-American war fought between 1846 and 1848 remains a topic of much contention amongst modern historians. Differing accounts and conclusions of the war are often presented and one must remain pragmatic when analysing both primary and secondary sources regarding the war. There is a clear time line of events that led to the outbreak of the war, but there is one major event, and one minor action, which directly resulted in the declarations of war on both sides of the conflict between Mexico and the United States. Most scholars agree that the annexation of the Republic of Texas by

In 1834, Santa Anna emerged as a military dictator and overturned the Constitution of 1824. In October 1835 the centralist congress dissolved the state legislatures and transformed the former states into military departments. When the federalists resisted the centralist coup, Mexico descended into civil war.

Every culture has their own unique and distinguishing characteristics. One’s cultural identity defines who they are as an individual, group, and community. Their cultural identity may be reflected in numerous ways such as: language, communication styles, religion, beliefs, values, clothing, or other types of aesthetic markers. Cultural identity is formed by many of these traits but is not limited to these specifically. This essay will provide detailed information on Mexican Americans, and their ancestry and heritage. I will also explain about this cultures central beliefs and values, while incorporating information on Mexican Americans, cultural patterns, cultural identity, and their cultures communication characteristics and styles.

Mexico suffered ten years of war, suffering, and turmoil. Mexican leaders during 1910-1920 were unable to hold the country together and a revolution consumed the nation. The Mexican people grew tired of political greed, lack of support, and unequal treatment. Several leaders such as President Diaz would prove to be a man of one interest, himself. Others would quickly rise against him and attempt to claim the presidency. General Huerta and Francisco

The Reform War was a civil war between the Mexican people, the conservatives vs. the liberals.  With the unhappy reaction of the liberals chaos broke out and Comonfort resigned and Benito Juarez became president. “Comonfort died in an ambush in 1863”(Biography in context) With Juarez President the Reform War ended. The liberals considered this a political victory over the conservatives, having one of their own in office. “Juarez would free Mexico from the most flagrant remnants of neocolonialism.”(Scholes) After the Liberals defeated the conservatives, President Juarez had more to worry about. Some European countries were very upset with Mexico and their unpaid debt with them. They sent troops to Mexico but, they all withdrew themselves when they saw that French dictator Napoleon was planning to overthrow Juarez’s government. The overthrow of the Juarez government started the French Intervention in Mexico in 1862. With the help of the United states Juarez managed to gain back control, he became a hero in the eyes of most liberal Mexican’s for not backing down and running out the French.

President, General Porfirio Díaz, an initial “savior” from the recent Presidents Juarez and Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada, remained in power for 35 years, from 1876 to 1911. During that time, Díaz increased Capital flow into the nation, especially from the United States, but Díaz did not carry out any safeguards to protect the nation’s sovereignty. Simultaneously, he increased economic development by internal transportation network improvements, along with the extreme use of natural resources. In reality, Díaz’s technique of earning political power and stability tampered with every principle of democracy, so he destroyed free market concepts by bringing in foreign enterprises with the assistance of assuring government support to the companies. Through skillful use of violence, consolidation of power, electoral fraud, together with political backing from the rich including those with power Díaz defended his supremacy and continued to build upon it.

In order to get a better understanding of the great Mexican author Juan Rulfo and his writings, one must familiarize themselves with the context of his time and the events and complex formation of Mexico. Mexico identified itself as a free nation in 1821, but did not see structural change in society until 1857 with a new Constitution influenced by Benito Juárez’s Laws of Reform. This Constitution was considered to be very liberal by the conservatives of Mexico. As a result, the War of Reform, also known as the Three Years War launched. This war caused Mexico to go bankrupt to the point that they could no longer pay the European debt. France decided to intervene in 1862 by appointing Maximilian to the new Mexican Empire, where the government would go back to being conservative, like the monarchy in France. In 1867, Juárez was able to reestablish the Republic of Mexico. Shortly after, Mexico fell under the oppression of Porfirio Díaz, a dictatorship that lasted for thirty years. Following this dictatorship was the Mexican Revolution.

Mexico’s people have had a difficult time establishing a stable and dependable government that they support. Spain had control over Mexico, and although many had tried, it was not until August 24, 1821, when the last Spanish viceroy was forced to sign the Treaty of Córdoba making Mexico independent. Iturbide, Mexico’s first emperor was deposed by his former aide, General Antonio López de Santa Anna. Mexico then became a republic, and Guadalupe Victoria became Mexico’s first elected president. Iturbide