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Diaz Becomes President
Porfirio Diaz was proclaimed president for his eighth term. Diaz had quickly modernized Mexico, but that came at a great cost. He followed the advice of his advisers who believed the natives and mestizos (who made up 90% of the population) were only good for manual labor. He believed the haciendas were more efficient than traditional methods. Many natives lost their farms and became slaves under the rich hacienda owners. -
The Beginning of the Revolution
The official beginning of the revolution started on November 20,1910. Citizens wanted to overthrow the current dictator, Porfirio Diaz. Diaz worked the peasants harshly, he had them build factories, dams, and roads. Porfirio won the citizens by intimidation, bullying them for support. This was the first political, social, and cultural revolution. -
Madero /attacks Casa Grandes
Madero's forces attack the federal garrison at Casa Grandes. Madero was helped by other leaders, including a 32 year old local bandit, Pancho Villa. Villa's men were mostly miners from the north. His men are known as dorados, which means 'golden ones' because of their uniforms. -
Zapata Starts a Revolt
Emiliano Zapata takes command of a force of 800 revoluntionary men after leader Pablo Torres is killed. The citizens lost a lot land to large haciendas during the time of Diaz. The government was unfairly taking the people's land for itself. Not only land was being taken, people's rights were also being taken. Zapata and his followers began a revolt against this with the banner "Tierra y Libertad", which means land and liberty. -
Madero Becomes President
Madero wins presidential election and takes oath of office. He is slow to take action on land reform, and he wants the hacienda owners to be paid for the land lost. He loses liberal support due to compensating the hacienda owners. Madero levies tax on oil companies to pay for education. Pascual Orozoco, once an ally of Villa, raises a large army supported by powerful hacienda landowners. He plans to march on Mexico city, and Madero looks to Huerta to deal with Orozco. -
Ten Tragic Days
This occurs February 9-19 in Mexico City. Felix Diaz, General Mondragon, and General Ruiz mutiny against Madero with 2,400 men. 300 men are killed around the presidential palace. Felix Diaz is freed, and Madero reappoints Huerta as military commander. Huerta orders General Ruiz and all the cadets to be executed by firing squad. 5,000 civilians are killed. -
Huerta Finds an Oppurtinity
500 civilians are killed from artillery, and General Huerta sees this as his oppurtinity to become president.. He despises Madero and has always wanted to overthrow him. Huerta captures Madero, Vice Pres. Jose Suarez and his cabinet. Huerta and Diaz come to an agreement, which is Huerta would become temporary president. In the next election, Huerta would see to it that Diaz was elected, while Huerta would remain as a strong military leader. -
Madero is Killed by Huerta
Madero is murdered due to orders from Huerta. Huerta's government tries to cover it up by saying that bodyguards were forced to shoot Madero and Vice President Suárez, during a failed rescue attempt by Madero's supporters. Huerta has Madero's brother killed too. Huerta jails 110 members of Congress, and 100 Madero supporters are executed.The press,which had been free under Madero, is no longer free. -
Plan de Guadalupe is issued
Venustiano Carranza was the forefront in the opposition against Huerta. Carranza's forces were called Constitutionalists. Carranza had secret support from the United States. On March 26,he issued the Plan de Guadalupe, which was a refusal to recognize Huerta as president. Carranza called for a declaration of war between the two factions. -
The taking of Zacetecas
The Battle of Zacetecas was one of the bloodiest battles in the Revolution. Pancho Villa's División del Norte defeated the troops of General Barrón, who were defending the town of Zacatecas. This crucial victory demoralized Huerta's supporters. This led to Huerta's resignation on July 15. Huerta went into exile in Europe, and is later kept under house arrest in El Paso until he dies. -
Villa Takes Chihuahua
Villa and his men infiltrate the city of Chihuahua on September 16th. They looted the city of Chihuahua for supplies and money. After losing the Battle of Trinidad, Pancho Villa needed more men. At Chihuahua, he gave a strong and passionate speech, which led to him gaining more recruits. This was crucial for further victories in his campaign. -
Carranza's constitutional convention
Carranza held a constitutional convention at Queretaro in December 1916. These ideas were approved on Feb 17, 1917. It allowed freedom of religion, workers were allowed to form labor unions, child labor became prohibited, and equal pay for men and women. This was a major victory for all those fighting for freedom and fairness. The government had the right to redistribute land to the people. -
Obregón is Elected as President
Obregón was tired of presidential puppets and corruption, so he took a leading role in the uprising that quickly overthrew the president. Obregón was elected as Mexico’s new president. Obregón was able to give peace and prosperity in Mexico after almost 10 years of civil war. He gave sanction to organizations of laborers and peasants. His appointment of José Vasconcelos as minister of education brought in the start of significant schooling reform. -
Liberation of the Peon by Diego Rivera
In Liberation of the Peon was made by Diego Rivera in 1923. Rivera shows the effects of corporal punishment at that time. A laborer, who was beaten and left to die, is cut down from a post by soldiers. The soldiers are caring for the person. In the background, there are buildings on fire, which show the effects of the war and revolution. This shows the injustice the people underwent. -
Zapatistas by José Clemente Orozco
Zapatistas was painted by José Clemente Orozco in 1931. Revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata and his men were a main figure in artwork of Mexican artists of the 1920s and 1930s. His men were known as zapatas or zapatistas. In this painting Orozco depicts a somber moment in the Mexican Revolution, as Zapata's peasant followers march to their deaths. This is a very gloomy and saddening painting of what occurred at that time.
