Mexico During The 20th Century

Mestizaje is known as a process of racial and cultural blending or mixing. This was common pattern found amongst most indigenous and Spaniards after the Spanish invasion. The Spanish invasion was primarily a conquest driven on the need for more power and wealth, in order for the Spaniards to achieve what they wanted they knew they were going to need to negotiate with the indigenous people. Aside from this it was also evident that the indigenous people needed to figure out how to survive under the rule of the Spanish even if it meant they had to give in to the Spanish’s way of life. The colonization of Mexico resulted in cultural blending of indigenous and Spanish culture, language, and religion as an act of survival.

After the people of Mexico freed themselves from Spanish control, they faced difficulties trying to officially establish themselves as a country. Despite their independence, Mexico had to also live with the aftermath of Spanish colonialism. Part of the aftermath included socio-political issues amongst the Mexican people. In an effort to establish themselves as a nation, they first had to free themselves from a Spanish ideology, for Mexico truly was not free after their independence. The socio-political predicaments contribute to the evolution of modern day Mexico.

The new money that was obtained by rising foreign trade and investments fueled the whole system. Railways spanned the country, mines and export croups flourished. The cities acquired paved streets, electric light, trams and drains. Even though other Latin American countries also were stepping up and putting in these new improvements it was an especially big deal for Mexico because the money was going into the rich elite and it also bolstered the national government.

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José de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz Mori, the 29th president of Mexico, opened Mexico to foreign investors and companies who exploited Mexico’s resources such as land, copper, gold, silver, water, and cheap labor for corporate gain. This caused economic instability in the way that Mexico placed power in the hands of large corporations and Mexican politicians.

The Spaniards made what we now know as Mexico into a racially segregated country, where the Europeans had priority in the casta. The white Caudillos were at the top of the pyramid, while the middle class, and then the Mexican Campesinos and the Mestizos were on the bottom. Each group of people worked against each other to try and distinguish themselves from another group. After Mexico gained its independence and the colonials went back to Spain, Mexico had to find a way to function as a country on their own. Society, let alone a democracy would not continue to work if all the racial groups continued to fight against each other. The different groups needed to learn to work together, which is what complicated Mexico forming a democracy. Colonial, racial, religious, and economic legacies served as roadblocks to Mexico’s independence and ability to establish a lasting democracy, because Mexicans could no longer compete against one another like they did under Spanish rule.

The current way Mexico was governed was not what Diaz wanted. He filled all the other government positions with men who agreed with his ideas. In order for Diaz to stay in power for the extended amount of time, he would need to take Mexico into a dictatorship. “Diaz is often remembered as being one of the country’s most notorious dictators. The bitter irony to his record lies in his accomplishments, of which were many,” (The Porfiriato: The Stability and Growth Mexico Needed). After fighting in the War of the Reform, Mexico was 4 million dollars ($89,273,288.18 in today’s money) when, and Diaz brought the country out of debt. “The Hospicio de Pobres in Mexico City was transformed into an institution for sheltering homeless children and for the vocational training of young women.” (The Porfiriato; The Stability and Growth Mexico Needed). The poor communities within Mexico needed modernization badly“In Mexico City, Diaz engaged in an ambitious building campaign in which he moved neglected colonial era structures to modern, better-equipped facilities.”(Porfirio Diaz). The economy in Mexico before Diaz was terrible but during his reign, it skyrocketed. “The financial management of the Diaz regime brought a great deal of wealth to Mexico and proved instrumental in beginning a massive infrastructure modernization effort in the late 19th century.” (The Porfiriato: The Stability and Growth Mexico

Diaz used this philosophy to make reasons for his policies. Diaz kept his old slogan "liberty, order, progress", but, the word liberty was removed from the slogan. Another slogan "few politics, much administration” also became common and popular. Foreign firms began to invest in Mexico because it became more structurally and economically stable. These investments gave Diaz the money he needed to construct highways, railroads, telegraph lines, and new industries. The city of Veracruz used the money to create oil fields, and elsewhere the mining industry was brought back. Mexico, fifty years before was seen as a third-world nation, became the standard for developing countries because of its high tech industry and technology. Although these were all big steps for Mexico's economy, in the end it was responsible for the bringing down of Diaz. (Encarta 98, www.eh.net.htm)

The economic situation in Mexico wasn’t good whatsoever. They had a low GDP per capita, as well as an unprofitable agriculture sector. Mexico didn’t have much factories due to their economic situation, but they did have a few Textile Mills in Central Mexico. In addition to this, their currency was unstable as well. Being in the Mexican Army wasn’t good job either as their pay was only nineteen pesos, four reels, and nine granos per

Western Mexico in the 16-17th century was pretty much rural. There were lots of villages around but Anglos some cities like what now is Mexico D.F. Their language was Spanish and they a lot of their cultures are still the same. During that period of time they discovered deposits of silver. This then brought them lots of money.

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

Throughout the 1800s, U.S. interest in investing in Mexico grew. By the 1900s, they investing over a billion dollars in Mexico and some 50,000 citizens lived south of the border. Later on, “the majority of Mexicans, most of whom lived in rural areas, grew poorer and more desperate” (Information about U.S. Foreign Policy on Mexico). As their desperation matured, a violent defeat killed over 10,000 Mexicans. Overtime, Mexico and the United States grew more troubling as the U.S navy was detained by officials. “Although the Mexicans released and formally apologized to the sailors, the U.S. commander demanded a 21-gun salute to the U.S. flag” (Information about U.S. Foreign Policy on Mexico). America was not satisfied with apologizes and forced

During the Pofiriato Mexico wanted to become more modernized and to do so, Pofirio Diaz wanted foreign investment. A lot of the investment came from

C: Mexico’s past wars and original government has impacted where the country stands today. Mexico’s first war set the stage for how their government would operate in the future. E: From 1820-1880, the Mexican Revolutionary war caused Mexico’s sources of income, mining and agriculture, to be demolished (Lomnitz). A: Because of this war, Mexico’s economy was ruined, leaving no easy way to earn a living, resulting in corrupt behavior in order to obtain money.

The following section I discuss the following: form government, living standards, labor market conditions, the orderliness of leadership and succession, culture and demographic characteristics of the population, integration with international economic systems and security risk.