The Mexican Revolution and Counter-Revolution

The Mexican revolution was started because of President Porfirio Diaz’s regime which ruled over Mexico from an Elite Class. Diaz’s presidency had led to many economic, social, and political problems in Mexico with foreigners being given control over local lands and foreign workers being paid twice as much as the local Mexican workers Diaz supported Foreign workers and corporations over most of Mexico. (Gonzales Chapter 2)

In 1910 the Mexican revolution had begun under Francisco Madero's leadership with the support of Mexican revolutionaries. They were able to successfully remove Diaz from power and Madero became the new president of Mexico. However, instead of rewarding those who supported him, he started placing people from the middle class in political positions and those from the Elite. The revolutionaries viewed this as a betrayal which led to conflict and continued war in Mexico. (Gonzales Chapter 2)

Francisco Madero and his middle-class supporters had a different vision for changing the Mexican government through the revolution and goals than the revolutionaries. unlike the revolutionaries who wanted to completely change the Mexican government through reforms of the Mexican government's economy, politics, and social standings for the lower class and to provide wages for the workers and allow them to form strikes. Madero instead of reforms he just started decided to take a moderate approach to the problems in the Mexican government instead just tinkered with the Mexican goverment instead of just doing everything right away for the Mexican revolutionaries and the elite still remained in power. (Gonzales Chapter 2)

Because of Maderos, different goals with the Revolutionaries Mexico ended up still suffering from internal struggles, and the fighting between the rebels and the federals continued and would continue for years. Madero and his former allies had come from different ways of life Madero was born in a wealthy family, while the revolutionary leaders were born poor and understood the problems that were happening in Mexico's economy towards the poor. Madero because of his background he didn’t help solve Mexico’s problems with reforms and instead remained surrounded by those with who he felt comfortable and ignored the poor classes. (Gonzales Chapter 2)

Because of the revolution, Madero ended up making enemies both from inside from conservatives who were a part of the Porfiritios that had supported Diaz’s presidency and from the outside by Revolutionaries. Madero was later overthrown in a coup by General Victoriano Huerta who had political ambitions of his own. He then Hijacked the Coup that was being led by Felix Diaz former president Diaz's nephew that had received backing from exiled conservatives of the Diaz administration. (Gonzales Chapter 3)

The coup was a counter-revolution that led to Huerta becoming interim president of Mexico. Huerta began increasing the size of his Military power and Militarized Mexican society. He also used intimidation, assassination, and capriciousness to handle political discourse in the Mexican government. Huerta had gained the support of European investors from Great Britain, France, and Germany. Huerta had also gained the same opponents as Diaz had the revolutionaries and a number of opponents all from different classes, including the United States led by President Woodrow Wilson. (Gonzales Chapter 3)

Huerta’s militarization of Mexico also led the military to increase its usage and increased production of the Radio to help significantly with communication for the federal soldiers. (Castro Chapter 2)

Despite being president of Mexico Huerta was not recognized by Woodrow Wilson as the leader of Mexico. Wilson began a more aggressive foreign policy towards Mexico and its influence increased at Britians expense and weakened Huerta by denying him customs revenues and would later play a role in Huertas downfall. (Gonzales Chapter 3)

The start of the Mexican revolution and the counter-revolution was just a part of the Mexican revolution as a phase that Mexico was about to endure. It also showed how divided Mexico is not just politically, but also socially, and economically. wit those from different backgrounds each having their own agendas like the Revolutionary leaders Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata, and conservative party members that were exiled for being a part of the Diazs regime in mexico this showed that Mexico was in Turmoil and it will take a while for its social and economic problems to be solved socially, politically, and economically.