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The French Revolution : The Causes Of The Mexican Revolution

Decent Essays

-- The Mexican Revolution --

The Mexican Revolution was a complex and bloody conflict which lasted about a decade, and in which one million people lost their lives.

So...did the ends justify the means?

Causes:

The Mexican people wanted to overthrow the dictator at the time, Porfirio Díaz Mori who had been in office for 34 years, longer than any other dictator had ever ruled Mexico. He violated a good amount of the laws put in place by the Constitution of 1857.

People were not happy with him because, like with most dictators, under his regime the policies favored the wealthy. He took large amounts of land from the poor and gave it to the rich.

Everybody, but especially the somewhat educated, and economically stable middle class wanted a democracy.

An important group :
The Magonistas - an archarist group, who in 1908 (two years before the revolution) were the only group who outwardly opposed Diaz. The wrote anti-Diaz propaganda in their newspaper, Regeneracion.

Events:

In 1908, Diaz announced he was going to step down at the end of his term.

In 1910, he breaks his promise and runs for reelection, but so does Francisco Madero. Diaz imprisons Madero on charges of “fomenting a rebellion and insulting the authorities”, and Diaz wins the election, being the only candidate. Madero escapes prison and flees to Texas from where in October, he publishes the “Plan de San Luis Potosí” calling for a revolt on November 20. That is where many mark the start of the revolution.

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