Mexican+Revolution+Group+2

=The United States and the Mexican Revolution=

The United States of America heavily influenced Mexico throughout its revolutionary days. Constantly looking out for their own interests, the U.S. played roles in Mexico's economy, political agenda, social and land policies, and even influenced their culture. The United States made it quite clear from the 19th century with the Monroe Doctrine that they wanted everything to do with their southern companion Mexico, and did everything they could to ensure they maintained control over the nation below.

Contents:
Introduction The Monroe Doctrine Porfirio Diaz Francisco Madero Victoriano Huerta Venustiano Carranza Alvaro Obregon Plutarco Elías Calles Lázaro Cárdenas Conclusion Sources

The Monroe Doctrine
The long-time basis of American policy toward Latin America is that of the Monroe Doctrine: American continents are not to be considered as subjects for future colonization by European powers. The document basically says that the U.S is the only real country with any power over Latin America and that all other countries must stay away. Many Latin Americans seemed to despise the doctrine because it gave the U.S. privileges at the Latin Americans' expense. Sometimes it was known as the "Cloak" for north American imperialism or even another American step towards Manifest Destiny. Even though Americans insist upon the doctrine, many Latin American countries denied its existence, and even today Argentina ignores its existence. The doctrine has been used heavily to the U.S.'s advantage, only being invoked when it seemed to be in America's interest, and when things aren't in America's interest, the document is merely overseen (Gunther, 56). The Monroe Doctrine was the beginning of America's grasp on Mexico and clear evidence of their desire to control its people.

**Porfirio Diaz**
Economic and political interests held by American investors motivated intervention by the United States in the Mexican Revolution. During the reign of Mexican dictator, Porfirio Diaz, the United States enjoyed a friendly business environment which supported various special interests and the profit of American investors over the well being of Mexican workers. Foreign capital, mostly from the United States and Great Britain, financed Mexican mines, industries, rail roads, and oil exportation. To insure the United States continued investment in Mexican industries, Diaz provided American business men with tax breaks and tariff flexibility (Granados, 2008).

The United States who once held Diaz in high esteem, abandoned all support for his regime upon learning of Mexico’s favoritism of British investors. Diaz feared that granting the United States such heavy influence would jeopardize Mexican economic and political independence (Keen and Haynes, pg. 283). The Howard Taft administration of the United States began to support the revolutionary leader Francisco Madero in hopes that a new executive administration would be friendlier towards United States’ interests. Although subtle, support by the United States was vital to the survival of Madero. After the election of June 1910, Diaz freed Madero from prison, where he’d been sentenced for publicly opposing the administration. Madero, still interested in revolutionary activity but fearful of Diaz’s reaction, fled to the United States and settled in Texas, where he published the Plan de San Luis declaring the recent elections void. The United States allowed this activity without interruptions giving Madero the shelter he needed to publicize his message. The United States had not always held such an accepting attitude toward Mexican intellectual leaders. In 1904, Flores Magon, founder of the Mexican Liberal Party, fled to San Antonio, Texas, where he established head quarters and published “Regeneracion” a news paper supporting liberal ideals. After being harassed by Diaz and American authorities at Diaz’s urging, Magon and followers were forced to relocate in St. Louis, Missouri and finally Los Angeles, California in 1910, at which point the American government supported a revolution against Diaz (Mayer, 2008).

**Francisco Madero**
With the support of the United States, Madero was elected president in October of 1911. Due to the shelter of the United States, liberal activists were able to preach a message of renewal previously interrupted by Diaz supreme control. America also helped weaken the Diaz regime through limited trade operations and investments.

President Madero, however, did not impress the Mexican revolutionaries or the United States government. Madero’s refusal to show favoritism toward United States investment again caused American’s to withdraw their support. The Madero administration preferred foreign investment, but did not place American claims above those of other countries. Madero’s acceptance of worker strikes and unions also contributed the ill opinion of American economists. On a political level the United States feared Madero’s inability to maintain control of social unrest and was quick to abandon confidence in his administration (Wilkie, 2008). Transforming America’s lack of support to direct action against the Madero administration, US ambassador, Henry Lane Wilson, worked to replace the residing Mexican president. In February of 1912 one hundred thousand US troops were stationed at the Mexican border due to Wilson’s urging. Wilson used this presence to assert authority over the Madero administration with constant threats to the president. While angling the United States against Madero, Wilson negotiated with the counter revolutionary forces who would later assume leadership positions, providing Diaz and his strongest general, Victoriano Huerta, with supplies to fuel their efforts. On February 12th, Wilson telegrammed Madero objecting to his inability to control the military coup that had erupted in Mexico City claiming that he had failed to protect American “life and property”. In contrast to this protest, Wilson had actively supported military action against Madero through less public negotiations with Diaz and Huerta. Continuing to play both sides of the argument, Wilson convinced British, German, and Spanish ambassadors to send Madero similar complaints. As the altercation continued Wilson demanded Madero begin negotiations with the opposing forces on February 14th, or US marines would invade Mexican ports. Madero refused to appease Wilson’s demands, at which point the ambassador abandon all pretense of cooperation with the current Mexican government and worked solely with Diaz and Huerta (Keen and Haynes, pg. 287).

A dispute between Huerta and Diaz broke out just before the fall of Madero’s regime, threatening counter revolutionary strength. Wilson mediated a conference at the US embassy, where it was decided that Huerta would head a provisional government followed by a Diaz presidency as soon as elections could be held. In order to obtain legitimacy for Huerta as president, Wilson collected coerced documents of resignation from Madero and his running mate Pino Suarez in exchange for their freedom to leave Mexico. Despite these promises, Wilson did not object on the evening of February 22nd, when they were arrested and murdered while being transferred from the National Palace to the prison (Ezpinosa, 2008).

**Victoriano Huerta**
Mass unpopularity of Madero's regime and Madero's assassination inspired US Ambassador Henry Lane Wilson, Bernardo Reyes, Felix Diaz, and Victoriano Huerta - the armed forces commander at the time - to conspire against the president. In early 1913, battle broke out amongst revolutionaries led by Diaz and federal troops led by Huerta. Those ten days are known as la decena tragica. This battle, however was artificially created to result in "The Embassy Pact", which was signed by Wilson, Diaz, and Huerta to end the "fighting". The pact instated Huerta as the interim president, a much more favorable leader in the eyes of the United States.

However, newly-elected President Woodrow Wilson found Huerta's assumption of power to be undemocratic and against the Mexican Constitution. Henry Lane Wilson was stripped of his position and replaced with William Jennings Bryan, who felt that Huerta was a usurper, and not a president. President Wilson insisted upon Mexico holding a democratic election to ensure an outcome that would not result in yet another revolution. Huerta conceded, and allowed the elections to be held, and faced opposition from Venustiano Carranza. Although it was not publicly known, President Wilson was financing the Carranza campaign, and providing other anti-Huerta leaders with provisions to overthrow Huerta if necessary.

Huerta, encountering such a formidable opponent in Carranza, declared the elections void and entered into the presidency. Like his former commander, Porfirio Diaz, Huerta was a harsh, militaristic leader. In his efforts to re-institute Diaz's old regime, he filled his cabinets with aristocrats and capitalists - his main supporters. The government was nepotistic and filled with patronage. In order to maintain order, Huerta ruled with slogans like, "submit and be rewarded, or disappear forcibly".

Unrest began to breed among the Mexican populace, especially in northern regions. Carranza, although unsuccessful in his presidential campaign, began to lead armies from the north to battle federal troops. Most of these skirmishes were fought along the railroads, and by inexperienced ejido farmers and their families. Nonetheless, the fighting was not beneficial to the power of the federal government. Carranza's troops and the other constitutionalist armies did have an edge in one respect, which was that the United States had been supplying them with arms and other military requirements. This did not go unnoticed by federal troops.

Meanwhile, suspicions were growing among the US government that their investments in Mexico were not the only foreign ties present. With the growing hostility between the bordering governments, Wilson had blocked all exports to Mexico, and thus intercepted a German shipment of arms to Huerta. Deducing that Britain also was exporting goods to Mexico, the United States attempted to block the seaport of Veracruz. This resulted in battle between Mexicans and naval soldiers, and the eventual occupation of all of Veracruz.

Adding insult to injury, Constitutionalists also rallied around the Plan de Guadalupe, which effectively ousted Huerta and declared Carranza the First Chief of the Constitutionalist Army. Supporters of the plan included Zapata, Pancho Villa and Álvaro Obregón. After repeated field defeats of Huerta's Federal Army by Obregón and Villa, climaxing in the Battle of Zacatecas, Huerta bowed to the pressure and resigned his presidency on July 15, 1914.

Venustiano Carranza
The United States continued their occupation of Veracruz through the Carranza administration, although their initial hostilities had been directed towards Huerta. These hostilities became directed at Carranza, however, when former Mexican general Pancho Villa crossed the border between the United States and Mexico to hold a raid on the city of Columbus, New Mexico and diminish the power of Carranza through association. Seeing this as an attack on American soil, President Wilson dispatched General John Pershing and ten thousand American troops to capture Villa and set up a base in Chihuahua. They were unsuccessful in capturing Villa, however Carranza - determined to maintain Mexican Independence - saw their base as a threat and sent federal troops to push Americans back. Not only Carranza, but most Mexicans began to despise Americans for their interference and what appeared to be an invasion of their country. Furious, Carranza told the U.S. to withdraw and prepared to go to war. With only downhill from his situation, Wilson decided to accept Carranza's terms for negotiation. The U.S. withdrew and Mexico had shown that it was not going to let the U.S. walk all over the country. Later into Carranza's presidency, tension grew even more among U.S. relations with the Constitution of 1917. The U.S. wanted to protect their interests in Mexico, and this meant keeping Article 27 (land reform) from becoming a reality. Americans tried to pressure Carranza into promising he would not remove what was theirs, but he wouldn't budge. Carranza again frustrated Americans during WWI where he kept Mexico neutral and was seen by Americans as unfriendly. Throughout this time, relations were quite low, and the U.S. was getting annoyed by Mexico independence

Álvaro Obregón
Alvaro Obregon's presidency marked the turning point for the Mexican revolution, as some of their modern day ideals finally came into existence. Although Mexico was finally starting to shape up, U.S. Mexican tensions were far from over. Frustrated, and annoyed, the U.S. refused to acknowledge the Mexican government for most of Obregon's term. America attempted to force Obregon to pass a law stating that no U.S. owned land before 1917 could be taken away from them. Obregon was willing to respect U.S. desires, but he also saw making a treaty protecting American land in Mexico would not only be humiliating for himself, but would also frustrate and anger the Mexican people, who were already annoyed with America's hegemonic ways.

Time passed, and Obregon saw the U.S. as a necessary ally for the future. He proposed that if the U.S. showed development of their oil fields in Mexico before Article 27 was enacted, then he would promise them the right to keep their land. This "positive act" idea did not go well with the U.S. who insisted that short of a binding treaty, Mexico would take away their oil fields. A conference was held in 1923 at Mexico City where after discussing other international relation issues, the topic of oil was brought up once more. Upon a "gentleman's agreement", and formally known as the Bucareli Agreements of 1923, a deal was struck, and the U.S. officially recognized the Obregon government. For the first time in a long time, relations seemed to be improving.

Of course, Obregon doing favors for American oil companies was not praised by Mexican revolutionaries and a revolt was led at the end of 1923. The U.S. showed its newfound friendship to the Mexican government by supplying them with arms and allowing them to effectively crush the rebellion. Thus, revolutionaries hated the U.S. even more, and the Obregon government was saved by America and their oil (Historical Text Archive, 2008).

Despite putting his rule on the line, Obregon did a fine job in attempting to repair U.S. Mexican relations, at least for the time being.


 * Plutarco Elías Calles**

The work that Obregon had done in order to fix relations with the U.S. was undone in a heartbeat by his predecessor, Plutarco Elías Calles. Calles immediately withdrew on the Bucareli Agreements of 1923 and began creating a new law to strictly enforce Article 27. The new law backed up by the Constitution said that anything on Mexican soil belonged to the state. The United States was thrown into a panic and talk of war was heard throughout both America and Mexico during this entire time period. Americans declared Calles a communist and Mexico was referred to as "Soviet Mexico" by many Americans. In 1925 a debate was held, with both sides refusing to budge in either direction. By 1926, the law was enacted, and again the prospect of war between America and Mexico seemed probable; however, the new American ambassador to Mexico, Dwight Morrow, managed to persuade Calles to join the U.S. side and leave the oil companies alone. Once again, America had managed to look after their own interests in Mexico.

Lázaro Cárdenas
Lazaro Cardenas brought a final end to Mexican struggle with his historical rule. He brought the Mexican revolution to an end, with his ability to make change happen, and create a Mexico for Mexicans. During his presidency Mexico experienced a major economic reform, with the establishment of a national bank, and more importantly, the nationalizing of the country's oil. The day of March 18, 1938 is celebrated everywhere in Mexico annually, and is known as the day Mexico declared economic independence. What Calles had started to do, Cardenas ended. He effectively terminated all oil leases with foreigners (mainly England and the U.S.) and demanded they sold over all their oil wells in Mexico to Mexico.

Obviously frustrated and angered, foreign countries (including America) boycotted Mexico's oil and silver. America decided that if it wasn't in their economic interest they didn't want anything to do with Mexico and were hoping that Mexico would give some of the oil companies their wells back. Luckily for Mexico, however, the second world war increased the demand for oil. The Allies still refused to buy from Mexico until they started selling to Nazi-Germany. The U.S. saw this as unacceptable and decided to mend relations with Mexico and begin purchasing its oil (White, 2008).

Summary
Since the early 19th century, the United States had a grasp upon the nation of Mexico. Not shy to voice their opinions, Americans influenced all sorts of Mexican affairs such as politics, economics, social behavior, and war. Although America did influence these things in Mexico, it was definitely not in the interest of Mexicans in all cases, but rather the opposite. In the early 20th century, America did everything they could to practically choose the president they wanted for Mexico whose policies would suit them best. It did not matter that Diaz was a horrible dictator simply because he provided America with a friendly business environment. As soon as Diaz started straying from American interests, the U.S. helped Madero gain power to protect those interests. But again, once he showed a lacking for U.S. business, America turned against him. Social and labor policies in Mexico were almost irrelevant in America, who just wanted to make sure they could keep reaping the economic benefits of Mexico's resources. Finally, after their oil rights were taken away they attempted to put Mexico into deeper debt by demanding they pay for the oil wells leftover immediately in hoping that Mexico would be forced to take the U.S. back. Unfortunately for America, Mexico remained stable, and the United States lost its oil rights to Mexico. Other than economics and politics, the U.S. did still play a large role in Mexican influence. A lot of social change in the 20th century such as rock-and-roll influenced young Mexicans, and even sparked independence and protectionism among the youth of Mexico. Evidently, the mere close proximity to America influenced Mexico greatly, as they constantly compared themselves to the U.S. The Mexican Revolution was heavily influenced by America, as they were there for every step of the way. Even though they were only looking out for themselves, it could be said that the Mexican Revolution might not have happened without U.S. example and intervention.

[|Mexican Revolution Timeline]

Sources:
Gonzales, Michael J. "The Mexican Revolution: 1910-1940" Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, 2002

Gunther, John. Inside Latin America. First. United States: Harben Craftsme INC., 1941

Smith, Robert Freeman. The United States and Revolutionary Nationalism in Mexico 1916-1932. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1972

http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/pages_kids/history/biographies/biocardenas_kids.htm, "Lazaro Cardenas". Mexican Revolution, September 14th 2008, Don White.

[|www.elsemanario.net], "Revolution Crosses Mexican Border", Hispanic Digital Network, September 14th, 2008

[|www.emayzine.com/lectures], "Mexican Revolution", Eric Mayer

[|www.epcc.edu/nwlibrary/borderlands], "El Paso Played Important Role in Revolution," Emilia Granados, Martha Espinoza, Claudia Cox, Jezabel Torres, Jessica Rayas, Janel Yvette Rivera, Adriana Martinez, and Veronica Villanueva, 2008

http://historicaltextarchive.com/sections.php?op=viewarticle&artid=449, "Obregon, Alvaro (1880-1928)", Historical Text Archive, September 14th 2008

[|www.jsri.msu.edu], "Invasion from the South", James Wilkie