Cause Of The Mexican Revolution

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“I would rather die standing than live on my knees” claims Emiliano Zapata. The Mexican Revolution began in 1910, after Victoriano Huerta, a military leader, executed Francisco Madero, the current leader of Mexico. In the period from 1910 to 1920, Mexico experienced a bloody and widespread revolution, which left almost no one in the country untouched. Although often characterized as a peasant uprising, the events leading to the revolution were much more varied and complex. The causes of the Mexican Revolution were political oppression, government control of the economy, and interference of foreign businesses.
Political oppression was one of the causes of the Mexican Revolution. Diaz, Recognizing the need for political stability and foreign …show more content…
Although the Diaz government strived for rapid economic growth and development throughout Mexico, these very economic policies aimed at Mexican development ultimately played a role in leading to the revolution. Specifically, they contributed to the overall growth of the Mexican economy, but at the expense of the poorest and most vulnerable workers. The nation’s GNP rose, while its quality of life for most citizens plummeted (Tuck, 2005). Statistically, the Diaz regime succeeded economically, but at great cost to the average Mexican. Thousands of miles of railroads were built across Mexico, allowing the rapid transport of goods for export. Mining of precious metals grew exponentially, facilitated by changes in land ownership laws to favor rich foreign investment in the mining sector (Gonzales, 2002). Across Mexico in the late 1800s and early 1900s, tremendous wealth was being generated through the country’s industrialization and exploitation of its natural resources (Tuck, 2005). In related cultural issues, the primacy of land ownership, military skill, and reputation in the male Mexican’s identity encouraged men to be angered at the reallocation of their property, and quick to respond to such aggression with violence (Vaughan, 1997). These men, were therefore open to joining revolutionary leaders such as Emilio Zapata and Francisco “Pancho” Villa (Leyva, 1998). The revolutionaries were …show more content…
Political oppression was one of the causes of the Mexican Revolution because Diaz, Recognizing the need for political stability and foreign investment, Diaz began a programmed to first quell unrest in the countryside (Tuck, 2005). Mexican males held land ownership, reputation, and power or standing in the local community as signs of their masculine dominance, Diaz appealed to the bandit / police culturally by giving them both land and positions of power in the local community and in return they kept down any local uprisings or unrest (Legris, 2010). Economics was another major cause of the Mexican Revolution because Diaz’s government strived for rapid economic growth and development throughout Mexico, these very economic policies aimed at Mexican development ultimately played a role in leading to the revolution. Specifically, they contributed to the overall growth of the Mexican economy, but at the expense of the poorest and most vulnerable workers. Foreign businesses were another reason of the Mexican Revolution (Legris, 2010). They felt their communities and traditions were disrespected and were often quite accurate in their assessment (Leyva, 1998). Foreign businesses were another major cause of the Mexican Revolution because foreign businesses development on railroads and mining also displaced entire
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