Following the overthrow of dictator Porfirio Díaz in 1911, instability and conflict among aspiring leaders marked the first decade of Mexico’s revolution, and it was unclear whether the revolutionary movement would survive. In 1917, however, a constitutional convention drafted a new charter for the nation that confirmed the principles of free speech, religious toleration, universal suffrage, the separation of powers, and the inviolability of private property. It also committed the government to social reform and greater control over foreign corporations.
Little changed, however, until the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas from 1934 to 1940. In a series of bold steps he confiscated millions of acres of land from large estates for redistribution to peasants, introduced free and compulsory elementary education, and sponsored legislation to provide medical and unemployment insurance. His most audacious step, however, was the nationalization of Mexico’s oil industry. In 1936, a dispute between unions and the U.S. and British oil companies erupted into a strike, and in the ensuing legal battle, seventeen oil companies refused to accept the pro-union ruling of an arbitration board appointed by Cárdenas, even after the Mexican Supreme Court upheld the decision. In response, on the order of Cárdenas, the government seized the property of the oil companies. Cárdenas announced his decision on March 18, 1938, in a radio speech to the nation. In the excerpt from the speech that I would like you to read (you can read it by clicking here), Cárdenas, after recounting the events in the labor dispute, comments on the role of the oil companies in Mexico’s economic and social development.
After reading the speech, I would like you to consider and discuss the following: In the account of Cárdenas, which actions by the foreign oil companies forced him to nationalize the oil industry? According to Cárdenas, what truth is there in the oil companies’ claims that they have benefitted Mexico? According to Cárdenas, who is ultimately responsible for the actions of the oil companies? Which political activities of the oil companies does Cárdenas condemn? What hardships does Cárdenas anticipate for the Mexican people as a result of his decision? In what ways is Cárdenas’ speech an appeal to Mexican nationalism? You thoughts…
Little changed, however, until the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas from 1934 to 1940. In a series of bold steps he confiscated millions of acres of land from large estates for redistribution to peasants, introduced free and compulsory elementary education, and sponsored legislation to provide medical and unemployment insurance. His most audacious step, however, was the nationalization of Mexico’s oil industry. In 1936, a dispute between unions and the U.S. and British oil companies erupted into a strike, and in the ensuing legal battle, seventeen oil companies refused to accept the pro-union ruling of an arbitration board appointed by Cárdenas, even after the Mexican Supreme Court upheld the decision. In response, on the order of Cárdenas, the government seized the property of the oil companies. Cárdenas announced his decision on March 18, 1938, in a radio speech to the nation. In the excerpt from the speech that I would like you to read (you can read it by clicking here), Cárdenas, after recounting the events in the labor dispute, comments on the role of the oil companies in Mexico’s economic and social development.
After reading the speech, I would like you to consider and discuss the following: In the account of Cárdenas, which actions by the foreign oil companies forced him to nationalize the oil industry? According to Cárdenas, what truth is there in the oil companies’ claims that they have benefitted Mexico? According to Cárdenas, who is ultimately responsible for the actions of the oil companies? Which political activities of the oil companies does Cárdenas condemn? What hardships does Cárdenas anticipate for the Mexican people as a result of his decision? In what ways is Cárdenas’ speech an appeal to Mexican nationalism? You thoughts…
10 comments:
Cardenas nationalized the oil industry because they were exagerating a lot and not making enough money for Mexico. The industries are fueled by only the greed for wealth of investors. They were tax exempt and used underpaid labor and often turned to illegal business tactics. He says they have benefitted Mexico by using their wealth to build schools, hospitals, and sanitary water supplies in the villiages they happen to be in. Cardenas blames mostly foreign personell for these conditions as they discriminate against the Mexican ppl. He also blames Mexico's former rulers for letting this problem go so far. His main political argument is that these oil companies are spending the money that they do have not on the Mexican ppl but on resources for rebellion and overthrow. Cardenas's speech would probaly appeal mostly to the working class of Mexico as they are the ones working for these oil companies.
The foreign companies had many privleges that was taking away from mexico and its people. For example: tax exemptions.
The companies have helped in ways like sanitary systtem, schools, etc.
he seems to have blamed the investors of these companies for not having any moral undertstanding of what these companies are doing to Mexico.
Cardenas condemns the companie in national affairs. how they can revolt in mexico if they aren't mexican and things of that sort.
the mexican people have to face building their own economy. they also have the price of raw materials go down which hurts the economy.
he's trying to get the mexican dignity to raise by erasing foreign company influence. This shows his nationalistic ways.
It seems that this Cardenas is a reformer and nationalist at same time
i think that these documents appealed to mexican nationalism, because he promised the end for foreign interference in the industry.
The oil companies abused their special treatment and tax exemptions by underpaying native labor, abuse through company police forces, and intervention in national affairs. Cardenas claims the oil companies have often bee a threat to the government. They supported rebels from 1917-1920 and often gave supplies and munitions to rebel factions. The people Cardenas says is responsible are those who "hold in their
hands the power to erect obstacles as well as the
motive power of all activity and who, instead of
using it to high and worthy purposes, abuse their
economic strength to the point of jeopardizing
the very life of a Nation".
Cardenas condemns the practice of making foreigners comfortable while the foreigners makes the Mexicans suffer. Cardenas stresses that the nationalization will not disturb the resource needed for the conflicts which became WWII; he states the enemies are the foreign business men who sell to the highest bidder. This promotes Mexican nationalism by uniting Mexicans to get rid of foreign business, and it seems to call about an oil boycott of sorts.
"create new resources which will reveal
that the spirit of our people is capable of saving
the nation's economy by the efforts of its own
citizens"
Where did the Stalin docs go?
I do not understand this passage from the writings of Lenin.
"The dictatorship of the proletariat has been successful because it has been
able to combine compulsion with persuasion. The dictatorship of the proletariat
does not fear any resort to compulsion and to the most severe, decisive and ruthless
forms of coercion by the state. The advanced class, the class most oppressed
by capitalism, is entitled to use compulsion, because it is doing so in the interests
of the working and exploited people, and because it possesses means of compulsion
and persuasion such as no former classes ever possessed, although they
had incomparably greater material facilities for propaganda and agitation than
we have."
The advanced class is the most oppressed, but they have the right to take action? What?
The oil companies were very much taking advantage of the Mexican people. They were making loads of money but paying their workers little and having them live in tiwns that didn't have any sort ofecessary structures, like hospitals or schools. Cardenas says that there may be hardship to come from his decision but at least it will be the Mexican people who are in control and can do something about it instead of the foreign oil companies.
Cardenas says that the oil companies had been treating their employees very badly (low wages, poor living conditions and working conditions, etc.), and that they weren't making money "for Mexico", only for themselves. They did build some public schools and help with resources, like sanitary drinking water. However, this was only in the towns that they happened to be located in. He blames the foreign influences for sort of corrupting the companies I guess you could say, and also the Mexican government for allowing this to go on.
He basically goes on to talk about how Mexicans need to eradicate the foreign influences from the country. He is basically backing nationalism.
cardenas is angry at the foreign oil companies because mexico allowed them to come in and use their resources, but they're seeing no reward for it. instead, all the wealth is simply being accumulated amongst the companies and governments of foreign investors. he knows that the oil companies treat the workers poorly. while the owners are living their lives of luxury, they do nothing to benefit their workers. so the workers and their well being are being neglected for big businesses, that aren't even mexican.
his speech inspires nationalism because it's a speech that makes the mexican people actually open up and look at the situation from the outside. he's saying: look at your people. you work hard and for what? to be abused and neglected just to go back to work the next day? it makes the mexican people want to get rid of foreign influence and use their resources for their own economic gain.
nationalising the oil didnt really help anyways. we have oil in mexico and the government owns it and could sell it cheap since it has no competition but its still like 3 bucks a gallon so it didnt really help. well thats just know in 2009 but thats how i see it.
cardenas mad because the the foreign oil companies are exploitiing resources and tax exemptions and the govt is getting basically nothing for all this including the government and workers becasue the factories do not treat the workers right either. this
calls for a strong sense of natioalism in Mexico against forign oil companies, he tells them to use their own oil and resources and stop woring for them becasue you just go back the next daay for them to use you to exploit you and your country
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