Module 1: The Meso-American Geo-Cultural Formation Flashcards
1
Q
Concept of Revolution by Oxford Dictionary
A
- an attempt, by a large number of people, to change the government of a country, especially by violent action
- A great change in conditions, ways of working, beliefs, etc. that affects large numbers of people
2
Q
Porfiriato (1876-1910)
A
- Porfirio Diaz, Mexican-French War Veteran
- Dictatorship (under a Presidentialist facade)
- Modernization:
-Foreigner landowners and investments
-97% of Mexican pop. Landless
-Economic development over concentration wealth
3
Q
The Mexican Revolution (1910-1934)
A
- Revolutionaries: Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Venuziano Carranza, and Francisco Madero
- Conflict among revolutionary’s perspectives
- Armed Movement
- Agrarian Reform: land redistribution
- Nationalize natural resources: eg. Petroleum
4
Q
Porfirio Dias vs. Francisco Madero
A
- 1910 Mexican elections: Porfirio Diaz vs. Francisco Madero (Anti-Re-elections plan)
- Madero was arrested by the Porfirio administration during the elections
- San Luis Plan/Madero’s Revolution: Armed movement against Porfiriato
- Madero was supported by revolutionaries like Zapata, Villa, Huerta, and Carranza. Ciudad Juarez (North of Mexico) was taken by the revolutionaries
- May 25th, November: Diaz renounced his position as president and fled to France
5
Q
Francisco Madero vs. Emiliano Zapata
A
- Madero does not implement the Agrarian Reform as promised
- Conflicts between Madero and Zapata in the South of Mexico (1912)
- US Administration supported Mexico’s coup by Victoriano Huerta (1913-14). As a result, Francisco Madero and his vice-president were murdered
- Guadalupe’s Plan (Mar. 26th, 1913): Constitutionalist Revolution by Carranza, Villa, and Zapata
- 1914: Zapata occupied South Mexico, and US marines occupied Vera Cruz
- Huerta tried to align with Germany, but the US intercepted Huerta’s attempt and arrested him
6
Q
Venustiano Carranza vs. Emiliano Zapata
A
- Aguascalientes Convention: unifying Mexican Revolutionaries leader (one new leader)
- 1917 Constitution
-Separation of Powers: Executive, Legislative, and Judiciary
-Freedom of Speech
-Separation between State and Religion
-Social Rights: Agrarian Reform, 8-hour work day - Revolutionaries Leaders Killed: Zapata (1919), Carranza (1920), Pancho Villa (1923), and Obregon (1928)
- Total losses range from 1.9 to 3.5 million
7
Q
1920’s and 1930’s Mexico
A
- Emergence of Mexican Nationalism
- 1917 Constitution:
- Foundation of National Revolutionary Party (1929): unify different revolutionaries’ factions - Lazaro Cardenas Administration (1934-1940)
- Strong State Role: Mexican State National Sovereignty
- Nationalize and Control Natural Resources
- Promotion of Union Organizations
- Land and Education Reform: Ejidos and integration of Indigenous populations
8
Q
The Concept of Mestizaje in Mexico
A
- National Mexican Identity Formation through Mestizaje
- Latin American Nation State Formation: population’s unity
- From popular to populist: National Identity as a way of controlling Mexican population
- Mestizos mixes with European blood
- Mestizaje = Ideology of Whitening - “The myth of mestizaje was used ‘to promote national amnesia about or to salve the national conscience in what concerns the dismal past and still colonized condition of the most indigenous people in Latin America”
9
Q
“La Raza Cosmica” (1925) — Jose Vasconcelos
A
- Jose Vasconcelos, Mexican philosopher and Minister of Education (1921-1924)
- “Cosmic Race”: a future formation of a fifth race (agglomeration of all races) in Latin America
- “The cosmic race is thus the culmination of a lengthy progress of amalgamation and homogenization, in which all traces of alterity are eventually erased. This immediately brings to mind the ideologeme of the melting-pot, in which diversity is distilled in a new purity”
10
Q
Mestizaje and Civilization
A
- “Vasconcelos, like many of his predecessors, also sees mestizaje in the cultural sense as part of civilizing mission, in which education leads to the integration of indigenous sectors of society in which he took an active part as Minister of Education. He condemns several leaders of the Mexican Revolution for waiting the return to the “primitivism of Montezuma”
- Mestizaje as way to integrate indigenous people in Mexico to the “Modern Mexican Nation State”
11
Q
Indigenismo
A
- Indigenous people receive a role from Mexican State:
- National Cultural Pride vs. Past Relics (and still the poorest group in the country)
- Celebration of Indigenous Culture in Mexico without Indigenous person in power - Celebrating diversity with no substantial change in the Mexican power structure
12
Q
1968- Year For Social Justice Demands
A
- May 1968, France: Student and Worker’s Protests
- USA: Civil Right Movement & Anti-Vietnam War Movement
- 1968 Mexico Olympic Games: Tommie Smith & John Carlo Protest
13
Q
1968 Mexico Olympic Games
A
- Mexican Nationalism to the Global Audience
- First Olympic Games in Latin America
- Shows the Mexican State development and modernization globally (Eg. 2022 Qatar, 2014 Brazil, 2008 China)
- Political Party Hegemony — PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party): 40-year administration
- Pres. Gustavo Diaz Ordaz (1964-1970)
14
Q
Tlatelolco Massacre
A
- Movement for Human Rights in Mexico
- Student protests against Mexican State repressions
- Diaz Ordaz power concentration
15
Q
Student Protests (July-October)
A
- Rival School Students Conflict (July 22nd)
- Student Protest Against Police Violence (July 26th)
- 50,000 Student Strike (August 1st)
- CNH Foundation (August 2nd)
- The Mexican Army Occupied Politecnico instituto (September 26th)
- Tlatelolco Massacre (October 2nd)
- Mexico Olympic Games (October 12-27)
