MADERISM: HISTORY, IDEOLOGY, REPRESENTATIVES, CONSEQUENCES - HISTORY - 2025

The maderismo was a political movement considered the initiator of the Mexican Revolution. It takes its name from its leader, Francisco I. Madero, a Mexican politician born in 1873 and who became president of the country for a little over a year, between late 1911 and early 1913.

This movement was formed in opposition to the long government of Porfirio Díaz, who was in power for some 30 years. Despite the economic improvement brought about by his time in power, authoritarianism, the lack of freedoms and the existence of a majority of the population plunged into poverty, led to the emergence of groups seeking their downfall.

Francisco I. Madero, leader of Maderism

Madero and his movement began their activity when the 1910 elections were approaching. First, with purely political tactics; then, before Diaz's maneuvers, by arms. Despite being successful at first, the truth is that the situation in Mexico did not stabilize and would continue to do so for another decade.

Apart from the leader of the movement and Porfirio Díaz, other important figures who participated in these events were Pascual Orozco, Aquiles Serdán, Emiliano Zapata and Valeriano Huertas. As part of the upheaval of the time, some of them went from allies to rivals in a few months.

History of the Maderista movement and Francisco I. Madero

The Maderista movement is inseparable from the figure of its top leader, Francisco Ignacio Madero. This politician was born in Coahuila, in 1873, into a wealthy family that owned several estates.

His entry into politics occurs in 1904, when he creates an anti-reelection party that tries to prevent the governor of his state from being reelected. A year later he began to support the Mexican Liberal Party, although he abandoned it due to ideological discrepancies. Finally founds his own party: the Anti-reelectionist.

1910 elections

Just before founding that political party, Madero had published a book that anticipates his principles and thoughts on the electoral question. The book was published in 1908 and was called The Presidential Succession in 1910.

The great reception he found was one of the triggers that led him to decide to found the National Anti-reelection Party. It was a movement totally opposed to Porfirio Díaz, who had been in power since 1877.

It was Díaz himself who carried out some demonstrations that suggested that this time free elections were going to be held.

His words in an interview were: «I have waited patiently for the day when the Republic of Mexico is prepared to choose and change its rulers in each period without danger of war, or damage to credit and national progress. I think that day has arrived".

Madero is named a candidate for the presidency and begins his electoral campaign with a large popular following. However, a few days before the voting, Díaz orders his arrest and imprisonment.

From jail, he watches as Díaz is proclaimed president again and, although he tries to negotiate with him to make him vice president, he is unable to convince him. He is eventually released from prison and, fearful for his life, flees to the United States.

Plan of San Luis

Although it is dated October 5, 1910 - his last day in prison - it is assumed that this document was actually drawn up in his American exile.

With the San Luis Plan, Madero decides to take direct action in the face of the failure to promote change democratically. Thus, the manifesto calls on Diaz's opponents to take up arms and sets a date for it: November 20.

In the letter he asked Mexicans not to recognize the new government of Porfirio Díaz and demanded new elections.

It was returning to its anti-reelectionist ideology and, furthermore, it promised to respect the agreements that had been made by the government prior to the Revolution.

Finally, it promised to return the lands to the owners from whom it had been taken from them by the Badlands Law, and to end corruption.

Fall of Diaz

Madero's call to arms finds an echo in many sectors. On the appointed date, November 20, rebellions broke out in several Mexican states. Characters like Pascual Orozco or Pancho Villa lead some of these with great success.

The struggle lasts for several months, but in April most of the country was in the hands of the revolutionaries.

The taking of Ciudad Juárez in May gives the coup de grace to the government troops. On the 25th of that same month, surrounded in Mexico City, Porfirio Díaz resigned and went into exile.

Madero Presidency

After the fall of Díaz, a transitional government was organized, but internal tensions between the revolutionary factions have already begun to surface. The call for elections, in October 1911, was intended to calm the spirits, but was not successful in that regard.

Madero wins the vote and begins a term that, ultimately, would only last 15 months. The politician, who had always been very moderate in the social sphere, tried to reconcile the supporters of the Revolution with the structures of the Porfiriato regime, without satisfying anyone.

Among its most positive measures are the creation of a regime with greater freedom, more democratic.

He also promulgated some timid land redistribution measures, but without reaching the Agrarian Reform that was requested, for example, by Zapata or Villa's supporters.

However, its laws on health and education, as well as the reduction of working hours, were more accepted.

The movements in favor of the Agrarian Reform were the first to rise up against him; then, the few supporters of the Porfiriato and those opposed to the measures it had taken. In short, he was caught between two fronts.

Tragic ten

Madero's presidency was to have a tragic end. In 1913, Victoriano Huerta, a politician and soldier who had collaborated with Díaz, carried out a coup with the support of the US ambassador.

There were 10 days of armed uprising, which ended with a maneuver in which a Madero minister participated to give it a patina of legitimacy. In any case, Huerta accedes to the presidency of the country, putting an end to Maderism.

A few days later, on February 22, Madero and his vice president are assassinated, despite Huerta's promise to let them go.

Maderism ideology

As has been pointed out, the ideology of Maderism at first did not go beyond changes in terms of re-election of positions and democratization of life in the country.

They were parliamentarians and wanted to cleanse all levels of the Mexican administration of corruption.

Beyond this, he only intended a few social changes. In the agrarian field, they were far from those who wanted a great agrarian reform, although they did agree with canceling many expropriations of land from small owners.

His claims in education and health policy were quite advanced for the time, trying to get the best services to the common people.

Outstanding representatives of Maderism

Francisco I Madero

He was the leader of the movement. Anti-reelectionist and moderate, he became president of the country. He died assassinated after the Huerta coup

Pascual Orozco

As in other cases, he began supporting Madero and fighting the government of Porfirio Díaz. Later, disappointed in him, he takes up arms against him, even supporting Huerta.

Achilles Serdán

Aquiles Serdán was a revolutionary and a supporter of Madero. It is supposed that it is he who visits the future president in exile in the US He died during the uprising that followed the Plan of San Luis.

Emiliano Zapata

One of the most combative leaders of the Revolution. Agrarian and supporter of a deep agrarian reform. He first supported Madero, but then fought against him

Valeriano Huerta

Military and politician, protagonist of the tragic decade that ended the Madero presidency. He himself held the position for a short period of time

Consequences

The main consequence of Maderism was the beginning of the Revolution. After the fall of Díaz and the reconciling failure of Madero, the country led to a series of uprisings, rebellions, coups and counterattacks that would last 10 years.

However, some of Madero's ideas eventually prevailed in Mexican society; an example of this is the non-reelection of positions.

References

1. Alternate life Madero and the beginning of the Revolution. Obtained from vidaalterna.com
2. Biographies and lives. Francisco I. Madero. Obtained from biografiasyvidas.com
3. Baptist, Virginia. The Fall of Francisco I. Madero and the Tragic Ten. Obtained from imagenradio.com.mx
4. Library of Congress. The Rise of Francisco Madero. Recovered from loc.gov
5. Teaching Guide. Faces of the Mexican Revolution. Retrieved from academics.utep.edu
6. Brown University Library. Document # 4: "Plan of San Luis de Potosí," Francisco Madero (1910). Recovered from library.brown.edu

7. La Botz, Dan. The Mexican Revolution. Retrieved from ueinternational.org