Since their independence from Spain and Portugal, Latin American republics have experienced periods of severe political instability. From the 1830s to the 1860s caudillos, local military leaders left over from the wars of independence, often seized national office, pillaged the treasury, and were in turn deposed by others. During the late 19th century, when Latin America began exporting raw materials (metals, fertilizers) and food (sugar, coffee, wheat, bananas), oligarchial elites closely linked to the export economy consolidated stable political regimes. This stability was purchased by limiting the exercise of political power to a narrow few and excluding commoners through voting restrictions. At the beginning of the 20th century, population growth plus immigration from Europe greatly swelled the ranks of laborers, professionals, clerical people, and the urban poor. Most remained apolitical, but key groups such as railroad workers, dockworkers, and meatpackers formed unions, while professionals, small property owners, and clerical people formed middle-class political parties.Social unrest along with often inflexible political regimes has led to a series of revolutions and other upheavals in 20th century Latin America. The document I would like you to read comes from the Mexican Revolution of 1910. It was issued by the most radical peasant leader, Emiliano Zapata. Zapata never seized control of the Mexican Revolution, but the radical economic demands of his Plan of Ayala (you can read it by clicking here) influenced the course of Mexican social development for the next 30 years.
After reading the document, I would like you to consider and discuss the following: The document offers a comparison with earlier grievances, when Latin American nations struggled for political independence. What has changed among the goals and actors on center stage? What are the goals of Zapata’s revolution? How much change would take place if they were implemented? Your thoughts…
5 comments:
The goals of the revolution are clear. Zapata wishes to overthrow Don Francisco I. Madero, who initiated the revolution just to replace Diaz. Zapata declares that land will be redistribued from the landlords.
No. 14 is especially radical and interesting:
"If President Madero and other dictatorial elements of the present and former regime want to avoid the immense misfortunes which afflict the fatherland, and [if they] possess true sentiments of love for it, let them make immediate renunciation of the posts they occupy and with that they will with something staunch the grave wounds which they have opened in the bosom of the fatherland, since, if they do not do so, on their heads will fall the blood and the anathema of our brothers. "
Esssentially, abdicate or die. Madero is proclaimed a traitor. They revolutionaries point out that they are not personalists; they present themselves as "partisans of principles", not "partisans of men". This is a big change from previous Latin American revolutions. For the first time creole rule is being undermined by mestizos. While the earlier Latin American "revolutions" were mere independence movements (this fact was professed by Bolivar himself), the revolution of 1910-1920 brough about social change and political change.
During this time of Mexican civil war, several other nations of the world are at war. Mexican nationalism surges, and mexicans are fighting for Zapata's revolution.
Zapata's goal is to amend social problems. He plans to correct previous government problems such as women's suffrage, and giving land for crop production to common people. This will help to spread the wealth around the population.
Like Alec said the leaders of the country were asked to give up their authority or die. This same concept was also applied to the "nobility" of Mexico or the people who owned most of the land because he mentioned that all that opposed the revolution would lose their land and their goods and it would be given to the state.
Zapata's goals included taking land from the landlords and giving it to the peasants. Take from the rich and give to the poor. With most of the people being peasants without land, this seems to be a pretty logical solution. The document also mentions how Francisco I. Madero was "incapable of governing, because he has no respect for the law and justice of the pueblos, and a traitor to the fatherland, because he is humiliating in blood and fire." Another one of Zapata's goals includes the overthrow of the dictatorial powers in order to aid the revolution.
this article was a little confusing to me, but i think i kinda got it.
It says that Fransico I. Madero was on their side at first, but then he betrayed the people and was able to get into power. It also says that from that day on, they began the revolution by him until they overthrow the dictator ship powers.
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