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Feb 1, 1517
Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba lands in Mexico
First European in Mexico lands in the Yucatan region. His army is ousted by the natives and sent back to Cuba. -
Feb 1, 1519
Hernan Cortes goes to Mexico
Spanish Hernan Cortes sent from Cuba to Mexico. He conquers the city of Tabasco, and founds the city of Veracruz. He then marches inward toward central Mexico to befriend a tribe that is an enemy of the Aztecs. -
Aug 13, 1521
Cortes conquers the Aztecs
Cortes takes Tenochtitlan, therefore conquering the Aztec empire. He builds Mexico City on top of the old empire, making it the premier European center of the world. -
Botello Jose rules Mexico
Napoleon occupies Spain, and appoints his brother Joseph (Botello Jose) as head of state of Mexico. -
Cry for Independence
With problems with colonial government, a priest, Father Hidalgo, in Dolores, cries for Mexican independence. This sparks a Mexican revolution, which ends up being unsuccessful. This does however, spark movements yet to come. -
Jose Morelos declares a Mexican republic. He is defeated as well.
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Mexico declared independent by leaders changed by revolts
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Santa Anna takes control
Former leader Agustin de Iturbide is deposed by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who declares a Mexican republic. Iturbide is executed. Santa Anna becomes president, then resigns soon after. -
US declares war on Mexico
Over disputes over Mexico, US declares war on Mexico. The US smothers Mexico, and in 1847, they sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, making the Rio Grande the border. -
Civil War breaks out
Juan Alvarez and Benito Juarez lead a revolution, introducing reforms, which make conservatives angry. This sparks a civil war. -
France is back, then not
Benito Juarez emerges as the president. Napoleon then steps in and appoints Austrian Maximilian as the ruler, making Juarez and his forces flee in 1863. The in 1867, from pressure from the US, France withdrawls from Mexico. -
Porfirio Diaz
After Benito Juarez's heart attack in office in 1873, Porfirio Diaz takes control and declares himself dictator until 1911. He introduces tremendous reforms, that only benefit the upper class. -
Madero sparks a revolution for free elections
Diaz is forced to step down after the revolution, but violence still occurs. Some revolutionary leaders emerge thorughout Mexico. -
Things calm down
After a series of assasinations and revolutions, Obregon ends up being the leader Mexico settles with. -
WWII
During WWII, Mexico teams up with the US to battle the Axis Powers. After WWII, they enter the United Nations (UN). -
PRI
As the gap between the rich and the poor in Mexico widens, the people push for a new government party called the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). -
Huge debt
A huge oil field is discovered in Mexico, and everyone is excited. The goverment borrows tons of foreign money for industrial expansion, only to find out the oil is of low grade. This puts them with the largest foreign debt in the world. A huge earthquake that followed also did not help. -
Vicente Fox elected ends PRI rule
Vicente Fox of the Partido de Acción Nacional (PAN) is elected, ending the PRI rule.