Maderismo and the Mexican Revolution: what did they consist of?

The effects of this stage of Mexico's history are still present in the culture of the Latin American country.

Little or very little has been said about one of the most crucial moments in Mexico's political and social history, but at the beginning of the 20th century a series of events took place that marked the trajectory and destiny of the country for 10 years. The movement of Maderoism, by its ideologist Francisco I. Madero (1873 - 1913), was the most crucial moment in Mexico's political and social history. (1873 - 1913), was a short but intense period of political revolution in the Latin American country.

Maderismo did not last more than a year and a half, among other things, because of its scarce revolutionary nature, internal disagreements within the movement and, finally, because of a military coup d'état carried out in 1913 by General Victoriano Huerta and with the approval of the United States, which politically and logistically supported the uprising against Maderismo. However, the effects of this period still resonate in Mexico's culture.

The precedents of maderismo

No political or social uprising can be explained without understanding the antecedents. Mexico had been living for decades governmental secrecy, political corruption and embezzlement of public funds. and embezzlement of public funds. José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz (1830 - 1915), president of the country for almost 30 years, sought to extend his term of office with a decree that caused a stir in society.

The period that Díaz was in power, known as "porfirismo", laid the foundations for a dictatorial government, laid the foundations of a dictatorial government, repressive of civil rights (such as freedom of press and organization). (such as freedom of press and organization) and ruled Mexico with an iron fist. It imposed its legitimacy by excusing itself in the stability and peace that had been established in the country from previous eras. As is usually the case in this type of political system, Porfirio came from an outstanding military background, with the support of the elites and the backing of the army.

Despite the general economic improvement and the modernization of the country, Porfirio's dictatorial rule was characterized by impoverishment of the social majority, especially the agrarian majority.The government, which saw how its conditions were deteriorating more and more. As if that were not enough, the personalism and despotism acquired by the Porfirian government further fueled the voices against it.

The role of Francisco Madero

As it could not be otherwise, Maderoism had as its maximum representative, Francisco Madero, who began his political career in 1904, leading anti-reelectionist policies to avoid a new mandate of the governor of his state, Coahuila. Later on, he became involved with and supported the Mexican Liberal Party in order to promote a more radical change for the country. However, due to ideological discrepancies, he left the party.

It was that same year, 1906, when he founded the Anti-Reelectionist Party, which had its ideological foundation in the reform of the Mexican electoral system.The government's goal was to make it more participatory, more democratic and with the ultimate goal of eliminating the scourge of political corruption. Although it was given less importance due to its brief incidence in public life, maderismo also included reforms to the health and educational system, making it more accessible to the common people, quite advanced measures for its time.

Thus, Francisco fought with equal forces against President Porfirio in a social and electoral battle, but he did not even manage to participate in the elections. Porfirio decided to imprison Madero, afraid of the popular support his movement and person were gaining.. Evidently, Diaz wins the elections again and Madero decides to go into exile in the U.S. when his attempt to become vice-president fails.

Plan of San Luis and the fall of Porfirism

Frustrated at having failed in his plan to seize power by legal and democratic means, Madero understood that the only way to bring Porfirio down was through violence and popular uprising. through violence and popular uprising. He did so with the famous Plan de San Luis of 1910, where he called to arms on November 20 of that same year. The document called on all the opposition to veto the reelected government, to unite against it and to fight directly with arms.

Such was the success of the call for rebellion, that in just a few months the whole country was in only a few months the whole country was in the hands of the rebels, guided mainly by the promises of the reelected government.The uprising of the proletariat, guided mainly by the promises of Maderismo to improve the conditions of the proletariat and salaried workers, with measures such as the expropriation of land and profound agrarian reforms, precipitated the exile of the people into exile. All this precipitated Porfirio's exile to the USA.

Failure of Maderismo

Unfortunately for the country, Maderismo turned out to be a mirage. Francisco I Madero did not fulfill most of his promises to the farmers. He took on a much more reformist and moderate character than expected, disappointing his followers.disappointing his followers. Timid measures of redistribution of wealth, of the productive system and more political freedom were not enough to legitimize Madero's government.

Between opponents within its own ranks and the nostalgic Porfiristas, Maderismo found itself cornered and with no room for maneuver. Because of these facts, the mandate only lasted 15 months, full of instability and fratricidal struggles that were followed by a coup d'état. followed by a coup d'état in 1913 by Victoriano Huerta.. Curiously, this historical moment would mark the future of the following decade of the Mexican country, plunging again into popular revolts and military repression.