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Where in World History is Mexico? So Much More than Montezuma and Silver Mexico in the Content Standards 7th Grade Standards 7.7: Students compare and contrast the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Meso-American and Andean civilizations. 7.11 Students analyze political and economic change in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries (the Age of Exploration, the Enlightenment, and the Age of Reason). 10th Grade Standard 10.4: Students analyze patterns of global change in the era of New Imperialism in at least two of the following regions or countries: Africa, Southeast Asia, China, India, Latin America, and the Philippines. Reasons Mexico Needs MORE Attention Proximity to United States Longstanding Economic/Cultural ties Changing demographics in the U.S. and especially California And Most Importantly…. Mexico is an excellent case study for some of the major themes, processes, and concepts that define the study of World History. Purpose of Presentation Show how Mexico was a part of broader historical currents during the Independence period Discuss content material on two topics in which Mexico can be included as an defining example Present material that is hopefully new and engaging! Some Essential Questions that a Discussion of Mexico Can Address How are individuals/cultures shaped by society and how is society shaped by individuals/cultures? What is the impact of government or power on society? How is power maintained and achieved? Does history show a progression toward equality and the rights of the individual? What is the impact of government or power on society? How is power achieved and maintained? Independence Period in Spanish America, 18081821 Topic 1: Subjects into Citizens The “Subject” in the Medieval/Early Modern World Relationship, political and social, based on familial ties, community/parish, and professional/religious organizations (guilds, sodalities) People exercise “rights” as members of a corporate body, not as individuals Monarch is seen as the arbiter of these often heterogeneous and unequal corporate entities (no concept of equality) Sense of shared identity, trans-local duties weak or nonexistent; i.e.: one serves the king/queen, not an abstract nation-state Problem with the “Three Estates” terminology The Citizen Idea of citizenship generated in the climate of intellectual and political conflict Notion that all people should exercise rights as individuals, not as members of corporate bodies Mainly a response to the growth of a wealthy, non-noble class excluded from direct and legitimate avenues of political authority Individual has an obligation not only to the monarch but to his fellow citizen as well (in hindsight, this will be seen as nascent nationalism) Should NOT be automatically associated with ideas of “democratic” government Subject in the Spanish Empire: Are we the people or are you the people? Who are these people anyway? Different categories of “Subjects” Problem: people fell outside of the legally defined categories, namely criollos, mestizos, and mulattos BUT Spanish legal and social practices were notoriously complicated and contradictory, allowing significant social mobility if you knew the right people and had cash The Two Republics in Spanish America Republica de los Espanoles Republica de los Indios Originally a category for peninsulares, but most criollos fell into this group Part of a legal/political system set up according to Castillian practices and NOT based on the patchwork of local/regional systems For many “Spaniards” this was a new experience and many bristled at the unfamiliar system and regulations. Ex: the Pizarro family in Peru. Resentment and rebellion were not uncommon. Reserved for “civilized” Indian communities that had sworn loyalty to king and made peace with Spaniards Indian groups kept a large portion of the land they occupied as a people (but this varies widely) Local politics/affairs were left to the Indians and a separate courts system was established to address Most Important: Indian communities are formally integrated into the corporate legal and political traditions. The Kingdom (or colony?) of Mexico As a kingdom As a colony-in-training under the Bourbon Reforms (1780) Re-emergence of regionalism Neat legal categories and the republicas inadequate Process of Independence in Mexico Napoleon’s Invasion of Iberia, 1808 Political crises throughout Spanish Empire Who wields legitimate political power when the monarch is enjoying a forced vacation in Southern France and some French guy claims to be the King of Spain? Political crises reshapes political landscape THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE SPANISH EMPIRE! More land, people than France and U.S. combined. Insurgents in the Countryside The traditional narrative: Father Miguel Hidalgo singlehandedly kicks out the Spanish crown (and then names at least one road in every Mexican town after himself) Indians vs. Criollos vs. Mestizos “Long live the King, Death to Bad Government!” and those godless Frenchmen gotta go. Rebels reacting to both economic and political conditions Urban Elites Salons of Mexico City Role of the Enlightenment Love the insurgency, but we’re NOT going to have another French Revolution Sovereignty reverts to the “people” (but remember, not all people are the “people”) Reform vs. Independence Constitution of 1812 Representation and the Spanish Cortes: Provinces vs. Kingdoms The constitution as an “American” document Most “Liberal” constitution of its era? Initiated the largest popular election that the world had ever seen Model for subsequent Spanish/Latin American constitutions “We are all Spaniards now.” The Return of the King (and Fernando VII Screws Up) Rollback of political reforms Attempt to re-establish authoritarianism Backlash in the kingdoms (or colonies?) Dead insurgents, conspiring elites, and turncoat generals New Nations/New Citizens Mexico declares independence in 1821 We were all Spaniards, now we’re all Mexicans and we like the dead Indians, but the living ones are a bit of an embarrassment Too much democracy too soon? Federalism vs. Centralism The civil wars that afflict Mexico and Latin America are extension of the conflict between regionalism vs. centralism and the mestizo/criollo cities vs. the Indian countryside Topic 2: Insurgency- It’s Nothing New (But It’s Not that Old) Popular rebellions: Spain and Mexico Who commands the military? Jose de la Cruz, Felix Calleja, Augustin Iturbide Insurgency in Mexico Most active in central and southern Mexico Insurgents hiding in the country, but are affiliated with variety of small villages Insurgents led by Hidalgo NOT supported by elites in Mexico City But some insurgent groups, like the one led by Father Maria Morelos, are working with urban elites. Insurgent Demographics Displaced farmers Landless peasants SOME regional elites (Miguel Allende) Clergy Devout Catholics And, of course, opportunists NOT AN INDIAN REVOLT! Guerillas and Guerilleros Term “Geurilla” comes into usage during this time period In both Mexico and Spain, return of Fernando does not stop the rebels Eventually, largest rebels groups are put down by military, but at the cost of political legitimacy. When urban elites finally give up on Fernando VII and they manage to convince army to join their side, independence occurs with little bloodshed (after nearly a decade of civil war, though) Characteristics of Modern Insurgency Revealed in the Course of Mexican Independence Large armies are trained to fight other large armies, not small groups hiding in the jungle. Martial law really irritates people accustomed to little, if any, outside interference Crack-downs on all citizens only compels more people to join the other side There will always be more angry civilians than content, well-fed soldiers. Insurgent leaders either become martyrs or politicians What the World Can Learn from Mexico Political legitimacy Enlightenment and its place in modern political thought Transition from monarchy and subjects to constitutional government and citizenship Who benefits/who loses in this transition It is EXTREMELY tough, if not impossible, to put down widespread popular insurgency Mexico is part of the “Age of Democratic Revolutions”