The advantages and disadvantages of the porfiriato are a consequence of the government of Porfirio Díaz in Mexico, between 1876 and 1911. General Porfirio Díaz, in his 35 years in office, economically transformed Mexico by founding a strong state with political stability.
It began in 1876, after overthrowing the government of Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, through a military triumph. In the decades in which he ruled, Porfirio Díaz promoted measures and reforms that transformed the structure of the country.
Porfirio Diaz
It increased foreign investment, which developed agriculture, mining, and road infrastructure. In return, it increased the difference between classes, and reduced the original peoples to slavery.
Porfirio Díaz was overthrown on November 20, 1910 by this revolution, and in May 1911 he left the country, going into exile in France.
Advantages of the Porfiriato
-19,000 kilometers of railways were built with foreign investment and the telegraphic network was created to communicate the entire country.
By encouraging foreign investment, it brought improvements in mining, agriculture, oil, among others. This led to the creation of a national industry.
-In 1891 the law that establishes education as free, secular and compulsory was regulated.
-The Naval Military School was founded, and the companies Mexicana de Navegación, Transatlántica Mexicana and Naviera del Pacífico were created.
-As maritime traffic increased, several ports were prepared, such as Veracruz, Manzanillo, Salina Cruz and Tampico. Through the lighthouse service office, headlights and beacons were installed at different points where it was necessary.
-Public expenses were reduced, with proper administration. Greater control of income was exercised. The new taxes that were created did not hinder trade.
-The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) was created by direct order of Díaz himself. The development of the arts and literature, especially painting, was promoted.
Disadvantages of the porfiriato
- It brought the politics of the Porfiriato, it was the great concentration of lands, in which they were not their owners. The peons worked with the stingray store system, where they exchanged the vouchers with which the landowners paid them.
-The industrialization and modernization of the country was in the hands of a minority and only allowed foreign investors to do business.
-The time was marked by electoral fraud, repression and corruption. The distance between social classes was increasing.
The oligarchy, a minority but economically powerful, left a population of more than thirteen million Mexicans in extreme poverty.
-The systematic exploitation of the indigenous population is also added, which was relegated to slavery. Díaz ordered the Aboriginal exploitation areas, the most notable being those of Yucatán and Valle Nacional.
After causing a massacre to take away their land, those who remained were enslaved by the large landowners.
-In addition, their lands were taken from the peasants by order of Díaz himself. All unoccupied land had to be confiscated, and many peasants were stripped of their land at the hands of many foreigners.
-All this was the breeding ground for the revolution led by Francisco Madero to take place, in which Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata had active participation.
References
- "Advantages and disadvantages of the porfiriato" in: Historia Estrada Aguilar (November 2011). Retrieved on September 6, 2017 in: Estrada Aguilar History: historiaestradaaguilar.blogspot.com.ar
- "Advantages and disadvantages of the porfiriato" in: Club Ensayos (May 2014). Recovered on September 6, 2017 in Club Ensayos: clubensayos.com
- "Advantages and disadvantages of the Porfiriato" in: Good Tasks (June 2012). Recovered on September 6, 2017 in Good Tasks: good Tasks.com
- "Porfirio Díaz" in: History of Mexico IMR (May 2013). Retrieved on September 6, 2017 in History of Mexico IMR: historiademexicoimr.wordpress.com.