The Revolution and Its Leaders (1910–1917) Notes

Background

1. Between 1910 and 1917, the Mexican Revolution evolved from a movement to depose Porfirio Díaz into a fragmented struggle over the nation’s political and social future.
2. Different leaders i.e. Francisco Madero, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, and Venustiano Carranza represented distinct regional, class, and ideological interests.
3. Their conflicts shaped the trajectory of the revolution and culminated in the Constitution of 1917, a landmark document that institutionalized revolutionary ideals but proved uneven in practice.

Francisco Madero: The Liberal Democrat (1910–1913)

1. Ideology
   1. A wealthy landowner and political reformer, Madero embraced liberal ideals of democracy, legality, and moderate reform rather than social revolution.
2. Aims
   1. End Díaz’s dictatorship, establish free elections, and restore constitutional government.
3. Methods
   1. Mobilized middle-class and reformist elites through political organization and the Plan de San Luis Potosí (1910), which declared Díaz’s reelection void and called for armed revolt.
4. Achievements
   1. Overthrew Díaz in 1911; became president after elections; legalized unions and sought to balance peasant and elite interests.
5. Failures
   1. Refused deep land or labor reform, alienating radicals like Zapata and Villa. His moderate policies and weak military control made him vulnerable.
6. Outcome
   1. Overthrown and assassinated in a coup led by General Victoriano Huerta (1913), revealing the revolution’s fragmentation.

Emiliano Zapata: The Agrarian Revolutionary (1911–1919)

1. Ideology
   1. Radical agrarianism rooted in Indigenous communal traditions.
2. Aims
   1. Restoration of confiscated communal lands and redistribution of large haciendas to peasants.
3. Methods
   1. Organized local militias in southern states, especially Morelos; practiced guerrilla warfare and local self-governance.
4. Slogan
   1. “Tierra y Libertad” (“Land and Liberty”) captured his moral and social vision of equality through land reform.
5. Legacy
   1. Though killed before full realization of his goals, his demands for land justice influenced the 1917 Constitution (Article 27) and later reforms under Lázaro Cárdenas.

Pancho Villa: The Populist Caudillo (1910–1923)

1. Ideology
   1. Nationalist and populist; sought social justice, education, and fair labor conditions rather than a defined ideology.
2. Aims
   1. Protect small farmers and ranchers, redistribute land, and challenge elite privilege.
3. Methods
   1. Commanded the División del Norte, using mobile cavalry and guerrilla tactics to control northern Mexico; funded operations by seizing land and property from elites.
4. Achievements
   1. Key victories against Huerta’s regime (1913–1914), boosting revolutionary momentum. Promoted education in territories under his control.
5. Failures
   1. Poor coordination and lack of political vision; conflicts with Carranza and Zapata weakened unity.
6. Outcome
   1. Defeated by Carranza’s forces and marginalized politically, though his legend endured as a symbol of northern resistance.

Venustiano Carranza: The Constitutionalist (1914–1920)

1. Ideology
   1. Moderate constitutionalism and nationalism; sought legal order rather than social upheaval.
2. Aims
   1. Restore constitutional government, preserve national sovereignty, and limit radical reforms.
3. Methods
   1. Issued the Plan of Guadalupe (1913) to depose Huerta and led the Constitutionalist Army. Relied on disciplined troops, political negotiation, and centralized power.
4. Achievements
   1. Defeated Huerta (1914) and rival revolutionaries, oversaw the drafting of the Constitution of 1917.
5. Failures
   1. Alienated both peasants and radicals by prioritizing stability over reform; his government remained authoritarian.
6. Outcome
   1. Assassinated in 1920 after losing military support to Álvaro Obregón, signaling the end of the first revolutionary phase.

The 1917 Constitution: Nature and Significance

1. Origins
   1. Drafted at Querétaro under Carranza’s leadership and ratified on February 5, 1917.
2. Nature
   1. Combined liberal, socialist, and nationalist principles; it became the most progressive constitution of its time.
3. Key Articles
   1. Article 27: Established state ownership of land and subsoil resources; authorized land redistribution and nationalization.
   2. Article 123: Codified labor rights into an eight-hour workday, right to strike, and minimum wage.
   3. Article 3: Instituted free, secular education and curtailed Church influence.
   4. Article 130: Defined limits on Church power and reaffirmed secular governance.
4. Application
   1. Reforms were gradual and inconsistent. Land redistribution remained limited until the 1930s under Lázaro Cárdenas, while labor rights expanded more quickly.
5. Influence
   1. Inspired later constitutions across Latin America and symbolized Mexico’s shift toward economic nationalism and social reform.