The historical stage of the caudillos at the emergence of the PNR in Mexico is a part of what is known as the Mexican Revolution, which took place during the years 1910 and 1920, although some historians place it until the end of 1940. This put end a dictatorship of more than 30 years and facilitated the establishment of a constitutional republic.
A caudillo is defined as a strong leader who commands military troops or civil movements with great rigor and without accepting, in any way, contrary opinions.
Díaz, Villa and Huerta, Characters of the Mexican Revolution
Under this characterization, an important group of Mexican leaders is described who during this revolutionary movement had an outstanding performance.
These caudillos were protagonists of armed struggles against their political enemies. Their main motivation, they claimed, was to improve the living conditions of the people (especially indigenous).
His warlike actions were bringing the republic closer that began with the founding of the National Revolutionary Party.
From the stage of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR, the most recognized names are Emiliano Zapata (1879-1919) and Francisco Villa (1878-1923), who developed struggles in the south and north of the country, respectively.
Venustiano Carranza (1859-1920) and Álvaro Obregón (1880-1928), the last caudillo before the republican era, also stand out.
Causes
The causes that originated the transition of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR were the same causes that unleashed the Mexican Revolution. Economic, social and political causes can be distinguished.
Economical
The government of Porfirio Díaz, the ruler who ruled the destinies of Mexico for more than 30 years, was a government with a marked capitalist court. One of its fundamental traits was that it gave excessive privileges to the classes that had the most. As a consequence, during his tenure the rich became richer and the poor poorer.
On the other hand, within the framework of a policy aimed at opening the country to foreign capital, the lands of the peasants were handed over to foreign companies.
Thus, countries such as the United States, France, England, Spain and Germany operated under the figure of large tracts of Mexican lands.
In this way, 80% of the cultivable lands remained in the hands of the latifundista minorities. The peasants became workers on these lands that once belonged to them or their relatives.
On the other hand, some of the concession companies were completely unrelated to the land. For this reason, they worked through administrators, the vast majority of whom were foreigners.
Due to constant mistreatment by administrators appointed by the owners of the companies, the situation became untenable for the peasants (the vast majority of Mexican Indians).
In addition, the land fell into decline due to inappropriate cultivation practices and its exclusive policy of maximizing profits.
Social
The social factor was decisive during the stage of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR. When the Mexican Revolution broke out, there was great exploitation of the working population. In the absence of legislation to protect their rights, it was subject to constant violations.
Among others, workers and peasants were forced to work up to 12 hours a day (and sometimes more). There was also no minimum wage, so they were paid at the discretion of the employers. And they were subject to discrimination, since the best positions were held by foreigners.
Likewise, the social scale was characterized by marked inequality. In the lower stratum were workers and peasants.
Meanwhile, at the top were businessmen, clergy and politicians. All the benefits were enjoyed by the upper classes and the others were subjected to an inhuman condition of servitude.
Policies
Porfirio Díaz's policy was one of the causes for the development of the process that led Mexico from the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR. Díaz assumed power in 1876 and held it for more than 30 years. In the course of his regime, he was re-elected about 7 times thanks to electoral fraud.
In order to govern without opposition of any kind, Díaz accumulated all power in his hands. The vast majority of Mexicans, who were the most humble sectors, were unhappy with their government because of the crisis it had brought to the country. With the consent of the president, a privileged few had seized the wealth of Mexico.
Díaz had set out to turn Mexico into an industrial and modernized country. At the same time, it was busy promoting a capitalist society like that of its northern neighbors. To this end, he began building factories, dams, and roads for which he sought foreign capital.
Likewise, Díaz developed an intense campaign to intimidate citizens and guarantee the submission of the population. Similarly, some civil liberties - such as freedom of the press - suffered limitations. However, political repression was felt most strongly in the laws enacted during his tenure.
In particular, a law stripping peasants of their land triggered widespread unrest. From there, they began a movement that fought for an agrarian reform that would return the lands to their rightful owners.
This tense situation had its exit on November 20, 1910 with a call to arms to depose Díaz.
Consequences
Economical
Among the economic consequences after the passage of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR, we can mention the recognition of the indigenous right over the use of ancestral lands. Similarly, the State's right to expropriate land for agrarian reform purposes was formalized.
These measures did not lead to an immediate return of their lands to the peasants. In fact, even in current times, popular protests are generated in Mexico claiming land that has not yet been returned to its rightful owners long after the enactment of the law.
Social
After the transition of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR, the population began to have labor rights, such as the minimum wage and a reduction in the working day to eight hours a day. The workers organized and legalized the unions.
As a result of the increased profits, the working mass began to enjoy a better social condition. The enjoyment of social benefits began to occur in segments of the lower part of the scale. In addition, a national education system was consolidated.
Policies
The transition of the caudillos to the emergence of the PNR allowed the promulgation of the Constitution of 1917. This stipulated the separation of the Church and the State, the governmental ownership of the subsoil, and the possession of land by communal groups. Also, it enshrined the right of workers to organize and the right to strike.
In another vein, the weakening of the caudillismo constituted another of the achievements of the evolution of the caudillos at the emergence of the PNR.
With the founding of this party, a new political platform was created. In it the leaders and ex-combatants of the Mexican Revolution were able to participate and present their ideas.
Progressively, the PNR made possible the replacement of personal caudillismo by institutionalism. From that moment on, and except for some isolated incidents, the institutional path towards the republican state has been respected by all.
References
- Excelsior. (2014, November 20). Dates, characters and documents of the Mexican Revolution. Taken from excelsior.com.mx.
- Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2018, January 02). Mexican Revolution. Taken from britannica.com.
- PBS learning media. (s / f). Mexican Revolution. Taken from pbs.org.
- University of California. (s / f). The Mexican Revolution. Taken from ocf.berkeley.edu.
- Library of congress. (s / f). The Mexican Revolution and the United States in the Collections of the Library of Congress. The End of the Revolution and its Consequences Taken from loc.gov.
- Historians. (s / f). Mexican Revolution (1910). Taken from historiando.org.