Lazaro Cardenas Flashcards
Term
1934-1940
Land reform
He distributed land and broke up haciendas. 1.5 million peasants got land. However, there was not enough money for loans and the haciendadas were awful to the peasants. Many people did not have electricity or plumbing.
Education
He created thousands of new schools and supported indigenous people. However, conservative towns did not like the new curriculum and 200 teachers were killed. The education was non religious.
Expropriation Law of 1935
Government can nationalize any industry and compensation would be payed over a ten year period. In 1937 He nationalized railroads.
PEMEX
Oil workers ask for a raise that would cost the companies 65 million. The companies plead poverty and offer 14 million. On March 1st, 1938 the supreme court tells the companies to pay a 26 million peso raise and the companies refuse. On March 18th, 1938, he nationalizes all oil companies. There is a 250,000 marchers parade. Oil companies demand $450 million in compensation but Mexico cannot afford that so they give a lower offer. US and Britain boycott Mexican oil. He sells oil to Germany, Japan, Italy, and the USSR.
