Historical Context
Mexico enjoyed relative political stability for the majority of the 20th Century. In 1917, after the Mexican Revolution, the government passed the Constitution that outlined a democracy and promised reforms.From 1920-1934, Mexico elected several generals as president. They did not serve as military dictators, but instead created a ruling party known as the National Revolutionary Party. This party dominated Mexico under various names for the rest of the 20th century.
Goals |
Tactics, Strategies, & Leadership
Cárdenas continued his reform as he nationalized the Mexican oil industry, sending away foreign oil companies & creating a state-run oil industry. After Cárdenas, a series of more conservative presidents turned away from reform.
The PRI became the main force for political stability in Mexico. The government was an imperfect democracy but was still stable. The PRI controlled the congress & won every presidential election. The government allowed opposition parties to compete, but fraud and corruption tainted the elections.
The PRI became the main force for political stability in Mexico. The government was an imperfect democracy but was still stable. The PRI controlled the congress & won every presidential election. The government allowed opposition parties to compete, but fraud and corruption tainted the elections.
Outcomes
The economy rapidly developed, but still continued to suffer severe economic problems. Mexico lacked land & jobs, & had a huge foreign debt that forced government to spend money on interest payments.
In the late 1960's, students & workers began calling for economic & political change. On October 2, 1968, protesters gathered in Mexico City. Hidden soldiers opened fire on the protestors, starting a massacre that claimed a few hundred lives. |
In the early 1980's, new oil & natural gas reserves had been discovered. The Mexican economy became dependent on it, but in 1981, when world oil prices fell, Mexico's oil & gas revenues cut in half, sending them into economic decline.
In 1988, opposition parties challenged the PRI in national elections. Their candidate, Carlos Salinas, won the presidency. He signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) document, which removed the barriers between Mexico, the United States, & Canada.
In 1997, two opposition parties each won a large number of congressional seats, denying the PRI control of congress. As the 2000 elections came, Mexican voters ended 71 years of PRI as the center-right candidate, Vicente Fox, became president.
Fox advocated reforming the police, rooting out political corruption, ending the rebellion in Chiapas, & opening up Mexico's economy to free-market forces. He also argued with the United States about legalizing the status of millions of illegal Mexican immigrant workers. He hoped that a negotiated agreement between the US & Mexico would pardon these undocumented Mexican workers in the US. In the meantime, Mexico's democracy continued to strengthen.
In 1988, opposition parties challenged the PRI in national elections. Their candidate, Carlos Salinas, won the presidency. He signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) document, which removed the barriers between Mexico, the United States, & Canada.
In 1997, two opposition parties each won a large number of congressional seats, denying the PRI control of congress. As the 2000 elections came, Mexican voters ended 71 years of PRI as the center-right candidate, Vicente Fox, became president.
Fox advocated reforming the police, rooting out political corruption, ending the rebellion in Chiapas, & opening up Mexico's economy to free-market forces. He also argued with the United States about legalizing the status of millions of illegal Mexican immigrant workers. He hoped that a negotiated agreement between the US & Mexico would pardon these undocumented Mexican workers in the US. In the meantime, Mexico's democracy continued to strengthen.