MexicoMexico

A Blending of A Blending of CulturesCultures

QuetzalcoatlQuetzalcoatl Quetzalcoatl was a god that was Quetzalcoatl was a god that was

worshipped by the Aztecs, worshipped by the Aztecs, Toltec, and Maya in Mexico and Toltec, and Maya in Mexico and the Yucatan Peninsula.the Yucatan Peninsula.

A prophecy told of the day that A prophecy told of the day that Quetzalcoatl would return to his Quetzalcoatl would return to his people to reclaim his kingdom.people to reclaim his kingdom.

In the year that the prophecy In the year that the prophecy was to be fulfilled, Hernan was to be fulfilled, Hernan Cortes and his conquistadores Cortes and his conquistadores arrived from Spain to conquer arrived from Spain to conquer the Aztec Empirethe Aztec Empire

Colonialism and IndependenceColonialism and Independence

Before the Spanish arrived, Before the Spanish arrived, Mexico was occupied by Mexico was occupied by many different native many different native peoples such as the Toltec, peoples such as the Toltec, the Maya, and the Aztecs.the Maya, and the Aztecs.

When the Spanish arrived When the Spanish arrived at the Aztec capital of at the Aztec capital of TenochtitlTenochtitláán, it began a n, it began a rapid decline of all of the rapid decline of all of the native cultures.native cultures.

Colony and CountryColony and Country Mexico became a part of the Mexico became a part of the

Spanish empire.Spanish empire.

In 1821, Mexico won their In 1821, Mexico won their independence under the leadership independence under the leadership of a Peninsulare General Agustin de of a Peninsulare General Agustin de Iturbide who proclaimed himself Iturbide who proclaimed himself the emperor of Mexico.the emperor of Mexico.

He proved to be no better for the He proved to be no better for the natives than the Spanish rulers. He natives than the Spanish rulers. He was quickly overthrown by his was quickly overthrown by his rivals.rivals.

Agustin de IturbideAgustin de Iturbide

Land ReformLand Reform

By the mid-1800s, after By the mid-1800s, after several government several government overthrows, Benito overthrows, Benito JuJuáárez took control rez took control promising land reform promising land reform (dividing the land held (dividing the land held by wealthy landowners by wealthy landowners among the peasants) and among the peasants) and the separation of Church the separation of Church and State.and State.

Corruption Corruption

Porfirio Diaz took control of Porfirio Diaz took control of Mexico after Juarez and Mexico after Juarez and ruled for over 30 years.ruled for over 30 years.

He was very dishonest and He was very dishonest and corrupt, and treated those corrupt, and treated those who opposed him very who opposed him very harshly. harshly.

This led to civil war.This led to civil war.

Pancho VillaPancho Villa

The civil war against Diaz was The civil war against Diaz was led by Pancho Villa, Francisco led by Pancho Villa, Francisco Madero, and Emiliano Zapata.Madero, and Emiliano Zapata.

As a result of the civil war, a As a result of the civil war, a new constitution was developed new constitution was developed for Mexico and democracy was for Mexico and democracy was introduced.introduced.

Nearly ½ of the farmland was Nearly ½ of the farmland was finally distributed to the finally distributed to the peasants.peasants.

Land ReformLand Reform

Since 1917, nearly half Since 1917, nearly half of the farmland has of the farmland has been redistributed been redistributed mostly to peasant mostly to peasant communities of 20 communities of 20 families or more. families or more. However, the However, the government still holds government still holds title to the land, and use title to the land, and use rights are parceled out rights are parceled out to villages or to villages or individuals for farming.individuals for farming.

The HaciendaThe Hacienda The revolutions in Mexico have The revolutions in Mexico have

had one common theme- the had one common theme- the redistribution of land.redistribution of land.

Haciendas (large estates) were Haciendas (large estates) were set up like the European manor set up like the European manor system with an system with an EncomenderoEncomendero who owned the land and the who owned the land and the many families who lived on the many families who lived on the land. The families were expected land. The families were expected to work for the to work for the EncomenderoEncomendero as as peasants.peasants.

One-Party RuleOne-Party Rule In 1929, the Institutional In 1929, the Institutional

Revolutionary Party emerged Revolutionary Party emerged and gave some stability to and gave some stability to Mexico by continuing to Mexico by continuing to redistribute land.redistribute land.

The party did not tolerate The party did not tolerate opposition and soon violence opposition and soon violence and corruption began to and corruption began to undermine democracy. undermine democracy.

This party kept a stronghold This party kept a stronghold on Mexico until 1997.on Mexico until 1997.

Vicente FoxVicente Fox

In 2000, Vicente In 2000, Vicente Fox was elected Fox was elected president of president of Mexico.Mexico.

This was a sign the This was a sign the Mexico may be Mexico may be ready for another ready for another try at democracy.try at democracy.

A Meeting of CulturesA Meeting of Cultures Mexico’s culture is a mixture Mexico’s culture is a mixture

of Spanish and Native of Spanish and Native American culture.American culture.

The Spanish brought their The Spanish brought their language and religion which language and religion which still dominate Mexico today.still dominate Mexico today.

The native culture still The native culture still remains strong. Millions in remains strong. Millions in Mexico still speak their native Mexico still speak their native languages as well as Spanishlanguages as well as Spanish

Economics: Cities and FactoriesEconomics: Cities and Factories

There is a historical gap between the wealthy There is a historical gap between the wealthy and the poor people of Mexico.and the poor people of Mexico.

Mexico is trying to develop a modern Mexico is trying to develop a modern industrial economy to close this gap.industrial economy to close this gap.

Many rural Mexicans are moving from their Many rural Mexicans are moving from their rural villages in search of economic and rural villages in search of economic and educational opportunities in the cities.educational opportunities in the cities.

Oil and ManufacturingOil and Manufacturing

Mexico has large oil Mexico has large oil reserves along the coast of reserves along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.the Gulf of Mexico.

The profits of the oil The profits of the oil industry have helped to industry have helped to finance the development of finance the development of other industries.other industries.

MaquiladorasMaquiladoras

Many Mexican factories Many Mexican factories have been built along the have been built along the U.S. border.U.S. border.

These factories assemble These factories assemble imported material into imported material into finished products and finished products and then exported to the then exported to the United States.United States.

PopulationPopulation Mexico’s population has doubled between 1970 and Mexico’s population has doubled between 1970 and

1998, and it is expected to double again by 2004.1998, and it is expected to double again by 2004.

74% of Mexicans live in cities and larger towns.74% of Mexicans live in cities and larger towns.

Mexico City has the largest concentration of population Mexico City has the largest concentration of population on the earth.on the earth.

Mexican Life TodayMexican Life Today

Emigration- many Emigration- many Mexican workers leave Mexican workers leave Mexico for the United Mexico for the United States in search of States in search of work. As a result, work. As a result, families experience families experience separation from their separation from their loved ones.loved ones.

Work and SchoolWork and School

There are a shortage of jobs There are a shortage of jobs in Mexico; this explains in Mexico; this explains why so many are trying to why so many are trying to find work in the U.S.find work in the U.S.

The education system is The education system is over-burdened. Without a over-burdened. Without a good education, workers good education, workers cannot compete for the few cannot compete for the few good paying jobs that are good paying jobs that are available.available.