Jaltemba Sol
November 20th is Día de la Revolución or Revolution Day. This day commemorates
the Mexican Revolution of 1910 to 1917 which brought sever social, economic and
political changes to the country. It was started to try and oust then President
/dictator Pofirio Diaz and ended with a new constitution.
Pofirio Diaz
Francisco I. Madero
The revolution began in a climate of country-wide unrest. The dictator Pofirio
Diaz had ruled for over 30 years; workers were exploited and there was huge
disparity between the rich and poor classes. In 1910 Francisco I. Madero, a
lawyer from Coahuila, formed a political party and ran against Diaz. Madero was
tossed in jail and Diaz once again declared himself the winner. Madero responded
by writing the Plan de San Luis Potosi, a called to arms for the people of
Mexico against the president on November 20th, 1910.
Maderos
supporters included notables such as Francisco or Pancho Villa and Emilliano
Zapata were victorious and Diaz fled to France where he remained in exile until
his death.
Pancho Villa
Emilliano Zapata
Madero was elected president but soon after Zapata and others revolted against
his rule; Madero was eventually executed by General Victoriano Huerta leading
his own troops. Huerta put a ban on press freedom and eliminated prominent
revolutionaries and workers movements.
In
1914 Villa, Zapata and Orozco joined with Govenor of Coahuila, Venustiano
Carranza, and overthrew Huerta.
However ideological difference continued between the revolutionaries. Carranza
was backed up by the United States and defended the interests of the upper
classes; Villa attached Columbus New Mexico; Zapata in the South gave land to
the campensenos.
Venustiano Carranza
Outcomes
Dictator Diaz was ousted
Carranza formed a new constitution bringing social and economic change
Villa was pardoned but assassinated in 1923 on his ranch
Zapata continued to rebel and was assassinated in 1919
No President can govern for more that 6 years
Land was redistributed from the wealthy landowners to peasants. Ejido, or farm
cooperatives were created.
Celebrations
Many towns have parades enacting various battles of the revolution. In our area,
the town of La Peñita hosts a remarkable parade up and down the Avenida. It is
scheduled for 9 but rarely start precisely on time. Take a lawn chair,
sunscreen, hat and camera.