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Jeremy Vick
Topic #7 pg. 727-732
Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821 and became a republic in 1823, but
political factions struggled for control of the government. Conflicts caused violence well
into the next century.
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In the 30 years after independence, Antonio López de Santa Ana dominated
Mexican politics
Popular for military victories
Served as president five times
Early Conflicts
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Began career as liberal reformer
As power increased, became conservative
Exiled several times; returned when enemies defeated
1855, overthrown by group of reformers, exiled, never returned
Santa Ana’s Rule
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Leader of reformers, Benito Juárez, reduced power of Catholic Church, military
Conservatives outraged; civil war erupted
Juárez, liberal allies triumphed
Juárez’s Reforms Power Struggles in Mexico
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Maximilian ended up alienating both conservatives, liberals
French withdrew troops; Maximilian did not have enough support to stay in
power; surrendered; executed
Mexican Republic restored; Juárez reelected president, became one of Mexico’s
greatest national heroes
Republic Restored
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Conservatives found ally in Europe
French emperor Napoleon III wanted to restore French empire in Americas
1861, sent French troops into Mexico, overthrew government, installed Austrian
archduke Maximilian as emperor of Mexico
Díaz’s Rule
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Porfirio Díaz came to power after Juarez’s death
Ruled with iron fist; maintained law and order in Mexico
Imprisoned opponents; used army to keep peace at any cost
The Mexican Revolution
Jeremy Vick
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Díaz controlled outcome of 1910 election; jailed opponent, Francisco Madero
Madero freed from jail; fled to Texas
Declared himself president; called for revolution against Díaz government
Modernization
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Díaz helped modernize Mexico by encouraging foreign investment
Exports boomed; railroads expanded quickly; yet most remained poor
Wealth concentrated in hands of foreign investors, Mexican elite
Villa and Zapata Madero returned to Mexico, found rebellion spreading.
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Two men gathered support from lowest classes, began attacking government
forces
Francisco “Pancho” Villa led band of rebels supporting Madero’s ideas; disgraced
Diaz’s government by capturing city of Juarez, 1911
Emiliano Zapata led group of indigenous peasants, called for land reforms
Díaz soon forced to resign
United States Involvement
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Pancho Villa’s army of small ranchers and cowboys in the north and Zapata’s
peasant army in the south revolted against Huerta.
1914, United States intervened, sent Marines to occupy Veracruz
Brought Mexico, U.S. close to war
Huerta tried to stay in power, but resigned and fled to Spain
More Violence
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Madero elected president later that year; turmoil continued
Within months, army chief Victoriano Huerta seized power, imprisoned Madero
Former Madero supporters opposed Huerta
Venustiano Carranza declared himself president. Zapata and Villa refused support
and the nation was plunged into another civil war.
End of 1915, Venustiano Carranza had defeated rivals
Villa continued to lead attacks against Carranza government
U.S. backed Carranza; Villa retaliated, launched attack across U.S. border
U.S. forces pursued Villa back across border, but unable to capture him
Carranza Opposed
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1920, Villa finally agreed to halt attacks, Carranza began nation building
New constitution allowed the government to redistribute land, limited power of
church, protected citizens’ rights
Mexico still struggled with widespread poverty
Jeremy Vick
Carranza Reforms
Carranza as President
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Martí was killed in an uprising against the Spanish. Thousands of Cubans were
forced into Spanish-controlled camps where many died.
The United States had become a growing economic force in Latin America by the
late 1800s.
Economic power and political power grew together, and the United States exerted
its influence and control in many ways.
Island of Cuba one of Spain’s colonies in the Americas
1860s, Cuban nationalists began fighting for independence
Spain exiled leaders of nationalist revolts Uprising in Cuba Growing U.S.
Influence
One exiled leader, José Martí, continued struggle for independence from New
York City
Poet, journalist, Martí urged Cubans to continue fight
Founded Cuban Revolutionary Party; returned to Cuba, 1895
Sympathy for Rebels
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Many people in U.S. felt sympathy for Cuban rebels
Viewed Cuban struggle for freedom as similar to American Revolution
American newspapers urged United States to enter war
Short War
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War disastrous for Spain
Spanish army defeated in Cuba, navy fleets destroyed in Philippines, Cuba
U.S. won war within three months
War Begins
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February 1898, U.S. battleship Maine exploded in Havana’s harbor
Many American’s immediately assumed Spain was to blame
Congress declared war; Spanish-American War began
Peace Treaty Treaty ending Spanish-American War
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United States received Puerto Rico, Guam
Agreed to purchase Philippines for twenty million dollars
Spain agreed to give up Cuba, but U.S. did not want Cuba to have full
independence
U.S. made Cuba a protectorate by forcing it to include Platt Amendment as part of
new constitution
Platt Amendment allowed U.S. to intervene in Cuba, approve foreign treaties,
lease land at Guantánamo Bay for naval base
Jeremy Vick
Panama Canal Zone
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1904-1914, Panama Canal built
Major medical advances required to control effects of yellow fever, malaria on
canal workers
Shortened sea voyage from San Francisco to New York City by about 8,000 miles
Monroe Doctrine
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1823, Monroe Doctrine declared Americas off limits to European imperialism,
except for colonies that already existed
Seen as idle threat by U.S. until end of Spanish-American War
Roosevelt Corollary
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To protect U.S. interests, maintain stability, Roosevelt announced the Roosevelt
Corollary to Monroe Doctrine
The U.S. vowed to use military might to keep Europeans out of the Americas
Considerable Financial Interests
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Late 1800s, Europe and U.S. had considerable financial interests in Latin
America; many nations there were deeply indebted to foreign creditors
1904, European creditors threatened force to collect in Dominican Republic
Increasing U.S. Power
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United States sent troops to several nations in early 1900s
U.S. forces entered Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Cuba to restore
civil order
United States took control of finances in those countries
Claimed need to prevent financial chaos
Reality: U.S. used Roosevelt Corollary to become even more involved in political
affairs of Latin American countries