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Legs of the Mexican Revolution by Angel Castillo

I'll leave this one a bit more open than the others since you'll all be focusing on various readings that you've chosen as we complete Module 7: Would you argue that the Mexican Revolution "has legs" (i.e., still has meaning and power in Mexican politics, culture, and social relations)? Why or why not? From what I've learned about modern Mexico, I would say yes in some areas and no in others, the Mexican Revolution does have legs. The modern Mexican issues have become less focused on class disparity itself and more the way class disparity has been brought about. The Mexican government cannot fix the blatant disregard for rule of law because they have lost political and political credibility [1]. A Mayor and his employees taking part in the murder of students with the help narcos certainly does little to bolster the faith the Mexican people have in their governments ability to protect their interests. The revolution did have corrupt people in it, seeking on...

Putting the State Back Together Angel Castillo

What were the key reasons for the Constitutionalist victory over the Conventionists? In what ways did factionalism still plague the Constitutionalist coalition during and after the negotiations that resulted in the Constitution of 1917? How was Alvaro Obregón able to successfully consolidate power in the early 1920s? What were the main issues he had to overcome? Would you argue that the Revolution had come to a close with his administration? Why or why not? A key reason that the Constituionalsts was that they were able to unite their forces against the Conventionists and establish themselves as in control. They had a wide array of support from key figures such as Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, Venustiano Carranza, and Alvaro Obregon. Too many people wanted too many different things when Huerta was outed by the Constitutionalist forces. After their common enemy was gone, the question was who would lead this new government. Carranza took power for a brief while but Obregon took pow...

Revolution and Counterrevolution- Angel Castillo

How did the Revolution as envisioned by Francisco I. Madero and his middle-class supporters differ from the goals that lower-class participants (campesinos, laborers, etc.) had in mind? How and why did those diverging goals create problems for Madero once he had been elected president of Mexico? By your estimation, why was this early period of revolution and counterrevolution significant? Francisco I. Madero was a member of the elite and enjoyed the support of members of the middle class who did not have to deal with the same levels of abuse that the peasants and laborers were forced to deal with. Madero's presidency was a chance for those who felt they had been giving up power to foreign governments and businesses, to right what they felt had been wrong. Madero gained the support of the campesinos and laborers by vaguely promising the redistribution of lands that had been taken from them [1]. Madero had only wanted to "tinker" with he system [2]. Looking at his poli...