Mexican History

Three Time Periods

1. Colonialism (1519-1821)2. Independence through Revolution of 1910

3. 20th Century after the Revolution

1. Colonialism (1519-1821)

Spanish Colonialism’s Enduring Influences

• Mestizo Population– Blend of Spanish and native Indian

(Amerindian)– Today: 60% of Mexican population

• Catholicism– Catholic missionaries spread the faith– Today: 80-90% Roman Catholic

• Spanish Language

2. Independence through Revolution of 1910

• 1810-1821: Mexico battles for independence– Fr. Miguel Hidalgo led the

rebellion (executed one year later)

– Mexican elite continued the struggle.

• 1821: Gain independence

Mural in Guadalajara’s Palacio de Gobierno

2a. Characteristics of 1821-1876• Instability and legitimacy issues– Spanish took ruling hierarchy with them.– Power vacuum.– CAUDILLO (regional strongmen) battled for power.• 1833-1855: Thirty-six presidents

• Rise of military power– Instability invited military control (i.e., General

Santa Anna)

2a. Characteristics of 1821-1876

• U.S. Domination– Took California, Texas, and most of SW U.S. • Mexican/American War 1848

2b. The Porfiriato (1876-1911)

• General Porfirio Diaz– Led a military coup– Became dictator (1876-1911)

• Characteristics of this era:– Stability– Authoritarianism– Foreign Investment• CIENTIFICOS: (technocrats) advisors who pushed for

entrepreneurship and FDI

– Growing gap between rich and poor

Mexican History

Three Time Periods

1. Colonialism (1519-1821)2. Independence through Revolution of 1910

3. 20th Century after the Revolution

3. 20th Century After the Revolution

1910 Revolution• Caudillos (elites): Fed up with Diaz’ authoritarianism &

foreign influence.• Peasants: Fed up with poverty

• Various caudillos led bands of armed peasants.– Emiliano Zapata & Pancho Villa

• Diaz forced from power

• 1910-1934: Assassinations and bloody violence among caudillos and government.

Forming the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI)

• 1929: Convention of caudillos

• Goal: Create one, big political party; pass around the leadership– President gets only one six-year term (SEXENIO)

• Principle of “non-reelection”• Then must step aside for another leader

– Remaining caudillos get important government positions.

• 1929-2000: PRI Controls Mexican Politics

PRI (1929-2000)

• Compromise among elites.• Behind-the-scenes conflict resolution.• Political/economic rewards to those who play

the game.

Comparing Revolutions

Motivations for Revolution• Russia: – Defeat authoritarian government /tsars– Spread Marxist ideology

• China:– Defeat authoritarian/dynastic government– Drive out “foreign devils.”

• Mexico:– Defeat authoritarian government– Anti-foreign dependency– Elite power struggle

Characteristics of Revolution

• Russia– Led by Lenin and Bolsheviks– 4-Year Civil War

• China– Fighting among regional warlords, Nationalists, and

Communists– Lengthy Civil War

• Mexico– Fighting among regional caudillos– Lengthy period of instability and violence

Outcome of Revolutions

• Russia– Marxist-Leninist style of Communism– One-party state

• China– Maoist style of Communism– One-party state

• Mexico– PRI created– One party-dominant state

PRI (1929-2000)

• Compromise among elites.• Behind-the-scenes conflict resolution.• Political/economic rewards to those who play

the game.

PRI’s Patron-Client Networks“Clientelism”

• PRI “Camarillas”– Origins with 19th century

CAUDILLOS.– Supporters received

political/economic/social favors.

– Hierarchical network– Offices and benefits exchanged

among politicians– Citizens receive perks for loyalty

Minister

Asst. Minister

Deputy Minister

Deputy Minister

Asst. Minister

Deputy Minister

Mexican Lives

1. What is Miguel’s job?2. Describe the patron-client hierarchy.

A. What does Miguel give? (identify 2 things)B. What does he receive? (list 3 specific examples)

3. Describe 2 specific examples from Miguel’s childhood of the PRI’s patron-client network in action.

4. Describe one example from Miguel’s time as a factory worker of the PRI’s patron-client network in action.

Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940)

• Stabilized and radicalized (socialism) Mexican politics

• Champion of the peasants1. Agrarian Reform

• EJIDOS– Created Collective/Cooperative Lands– Taken from foreigners and landlords– Worked by peasants– 50 million acres of land

Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940)

2. Formation of Unions & Peasant Organizations• Organizations became part of PRI machine• Influence in public policy– State Corporatism

3. Nationalized Oil Industry• PEMEX created.• Diaz’ foreign investors were kicked out.

4. Legitimacy to New Government/PRI• Stepped aside after 6 years.

1934-2000: 11 PRI Presidents

Gradual erosion of PRI’s monopoly on power

Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power

POLITICAL CHANGES• PRI Progressives believed changes in

politics=greater legitimacy1. (1964) Legislature began proportional representation• Low 2.5% Threshold• 1998: 240 of lower houses 500 deputies were PRI

opposition

2. (1990) Federal Election Institute• Independent organization to control elections• Greatly reduced voter fraud

3. Permit some fair local/regional elections

Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power

Governors by Party (1960-2000)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

PRD 1 3 4 6

PAN 1 1 2 3 3 3 4 4 6 6 7 9

PRI 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 30 29 28 28 28 27 27 25 23 21 17

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power

Presidential Elections by Party (1964-2000)

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

PRI 87.8% 84.4% 92.8% 71.6% 51.2% 50.6% 36.1%

PAN 11.0% 14.0% 0.0% 16.4% 17.0% 26.9% 42.5%

PRD/left* 3.7% 30.9% 17.2% 16.6%

1964 1970 1976 1982 1988 1994 2000

Erosion of PRI’s Monopoly on Power

ECONOMIC ISSUES• Several economic crises between 1980-2000– 1980s: oil prices plunged; Mexico=recession– Mid-1990s: peso lost half its value• Bailed out by the U.S.• Mexico=severe austerity measures

Election of 2000CANDIDATE PARTY VOTE PERCENTAGE

VICENTE FOX PAN 15.99 million 42.52FRANCISCO LABASTIDA

PRI 13.58 million 36.11

CUAUHTEMOC CARDENAS

PRD 6.26 million 16.64

Election of 2006CANDIDATE PARTY VOTE PERCENTAGE

Felipe Calderon PAN 15.00 million 35.89%

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

PRD 14.76 million 35.31%

Roberto Madrazo PRI 9.3 million 22.26%

“Obrador to be ‘Parallel President’”• Lisa Adams in Mexico City and Associated Press • The Guardian, Sunday 17 September 2006

Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Mexico's leftwing leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, elected him head of a parallel government that plans to oppose president-elect Felipe Calderon's administration for the next six years.

The weekend "vote" - a show of hands in the capital's vast Zocalo plaza -follows weeks of dispute over the July 2 national election. Mr Lopez Obrador claims that fraud and illegal government spending were responsible for the conservative Mr Calderon's narrow poll victory.

The crowd agreed not to recognise Mr Calderon as the nation's leader, and to create a parallel government in Mexico City, complete with its own cabinet. Mr Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as "legitimate president" on November 20, the Mexican Revolution holiday. Mr Calderon will be inaugurated on December 1.

Political Parties of Mexico

National Action Party (PAN)

• Established in 1939

Platform• Economic liberalization• Regional autonomy• Free and fair elections• Strong support of Catholic Church• Party on the right

Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)

• Established 1986• Broke away from PRI

Platform• Populist (favor the people over the elite)• Nationalist• Arguably “won” in 1988.• Barely lost in 2006.• Party on the left

Voter Identification

PRI• Small town and rural• Less educated/poorer• Older

PAN• Urban• Better educated• Professionals/Business• Less church/state

separationPRD

• Small town or urban• Some education• Younger/politically active

2000 Election

Blue=PANGreen=PRIYellow=PRD

2006 Election

Election of 2012CANDIDATE PARTY VOTE PERCENTAGE

Enrique Pena Nieto PRI 19.2 million 39%

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador

PRD 15.9 million 32%

Josefina Vazquez Mota

PAN 12.7 million 26%

Election of 2012

• Green=PRI• Yellow=PRD• Blue=PAN