Causes of the Mexican Revolution Cause 1 Porfiriato

Causes of the Mexican Revolution

Cause #1: Porfiriato Dictatorship • Once elected, Porfirio Diaz removed the “no re -election” clause of the constitution • “Pan, o palo” was his slogan; “Bread, or stick” • guardias rurales (countryside police) • Democracy (electing officials) completely disappeared • The people had no actual power

Cause #2: Industrialization • During the Porfiriato, Mexico was viewed as an economic power • Foreign investors owned 85% of the mining and industrial companies • “cash” crops such as tobacco and sugar cane replaced subsistence crops (corn, beans, etc. ) • Industrialization and “progress” came at the expense of the poor

Cause #3: Limited personal freedoms • The rurales, as well as the Bravi (Diaz’ personal police) , exploited and abused the populace • Citizens were bullied into voting for Diaz • Freedom of the press and freedom of speech were eliminated • Economic difficulties reduced personal freedoms

Cause #4: Treatment of the peasantry • Land had been forcibly taken from the natives • By 1910, 2% of the Mexican population owned all of the land in Mexico • The majority of Mexican citizens lived in the countryside (rural areas) • 78% of the Mexican people were landless peasants (farm workers) • Most peasants were trapped in debt peonage • Most haciendas were extremely difficult places to live and treated the peasants as virtual slaves.

Cause #5: Limited access to basic needs • Sixteen percent of Mexicans were homeless. • Life expectancy was 30 yrs old. • In some areas of Mexico, 4 out of every 5 babies died before they reached the age of 1. • a bar of soap cost 25% of the basic wage. • Only the wealthy were able to seek an education.