The United States and the Mexican Revolution

1

• The United States and the Mexican Revolution

2
Mexico Under Porfirio Diaz

• Diaz became President in 1877, and imposed order
  by suppressing opposition.
• He attracted foreign investors, especially the
  United States
• By 1908 the United States controlled ¾ of Mexican
  mining
• By 1913 more than ½ of Mexicos 2 Billion in
  foreign investments came from the United States

3
The seeds of revolution

• Diazs policies were not popular with all
  Mexicans, especially the workers and the poor
• Emiliano Zapata wanted land for the American
  Indian peasant population
• Diaz resigned in May of 1911 after rebel troops
  were victorious in northern and central Mexican
  cities

4
Fransisco Madera

• Madera was elected President in 1911
• The United States supported Maderas attempt to
  create a democratic government by placing an
  embargo on arms sales to his opponents
• February 1913 rebels attacked Maderos forces
  to gain control of Mexico
• Victoriano Huerta, Maderos commanding general,
  took control of the country
• Madero was imprisoned and killed while
  supposedly trying to escape

5
Huertas Mexico

• Most European governments recognized Huerta as
  the new leader of Mexico
• The United States did NOT recognize Huerta
  because of how he had come to power. President
  Wilson began his watchful waiting for a chance
  to take Huerta out of power
• Huerta also faced opposition from 4 rebel armies
  led by Venustiano Carranza, Fransisco Pancho
  Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and Alvaro Obregon

6
The Dolphin Incident

• the US ship was stationed near Tampico, a town
  controlled by Huerta. Several crew members were
  arrested by Huerta loyalists when they went
  ashore. They were released, and an apology was
  offered by the arresting soldiers superiors BUT
  the United States demanded a formal apology and a
  21 gun salute to the American flag
• April 22-Congress gave Wilson permission to use
  armed forces against Mexico

7
United States Intervention

• Wilson got his opportunity to act quickly
• The United States seized the port city of
  Veracruz because they had learned a German ship
  was landing there with arms for Huerta
• 19 marines and over 300 Mexican civilians were
  killed during the capture of the city. Huertas
  troops had already left the city

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Other countries intervene

• Argentina, Brazil, and Chile the ABC powers
  convened a conference about the crisis in Mexico
• They called for Huertas resignation and the
  creation of a provisional government
• Huerta refused until July 1914 when he resigned
  and fled to Spain

9
The End of the Revolution

• In March 1915 Venustiano Carranza became the
  provisional president of Mexico after he
  re-entered Mexico City. The United States
  recognized his government six months later
• 2/3 of Mexico was still under the control of
  rebel leaders Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa
  until April 1915 when Villa was defeated

10
Pancho Villa

• Villa was upset the United States had recognized
  Carranzas government because he believed the
  United States should not have interfered in
  Mexican politics
• Villa raided a small New Mexican town-- 17
  Americans and over 100 of Villas men were killed
• Wilson sent General John J. Pershing to Mexico to
  capture Villa dead or alive

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The Pursuit of Pancho Villa

• 15,000 US troops tried to capture Villa in his
  home state, but they were unsuccessful
• Pershings troops battled Mexican soldiers when
  the US troops entered the city of Carrizal
  instead of going around it
• When Wilson realized a war between the 150,000 US
  troops on Mexicos border and the Mexicans was
  imminent, Wilson ordered the troops to withdraw
  in January 1917

12
Venustiano Carranza in Power

• Carranza called for a Constitutional Convention
  in December 1916
• Villa was still in hiding and Zapatas only
  stronghold was in the South
• A new constitution was ratified in February 1917
• The constitution put the common welfare above
  that of individual rights protected workers with
  an 8 hour day, the right to establish unions, and
  collectively bargain and established national
  ownership of most of Mexicos natural resources