Though not really considered to be a Latin American country, Mexico does share a similar history with other Latin American countries. Looking back over the last century, it would be fair to say that Mexico has been a typical Latin American country in the sense that it has had a history of corruption, instability, and has beholden more to foreigners than the will of its people.
Like many other Latin American countries, corruption was an aspect in Mexico’s history as well. The Diaz era, which lasted for 35 years long (1876-1911), indicates that corruption was indeed present in the government. Diaz’s only way to stay in power for such a long time was through corruption, of course, as he shrewdly appealed to the privileged and kept them loyal to him. He also rigged the ballots so that he could stay in power specifically during the 1910 election against Madero. Madero, who ran under the “anti-reelectionist” party, represented the sentiment of the many Mexicans who were tired of Diaz’s corrupted tactics to remain in power. This helped to start the Mexican Revolution which was a response to the corruptness of Diaz’s regime.
Throughout the entirety of the Mexican Revolution, not only was corruption a present factor, but instability in addition. During this period, there was instability in the government as current presidents were constantly replaced by new ones in only a short duration of time. First, Madero becomes president of Mexico in 1911. In 1913 however, Madero is murdered by General Victoriano Huerta, who then becomes president. A year later, Huerta decides to resign and leaves Mexico. A couple of months later, Carranza occupies Mexico but the revolutionary leaders reject Carranza as Mexico’s President and force him to leave the country. That same year, Zapata occupies Mexico City and between then and 1919, all these leaders run into conflict with one another. Later that year, Zapata is murdered in an ambush arranged by Carranza. Finally, instability seems to have dwindled, if not put to a halt for a while in 1920 when Alvaro Obregon along with the Zapatistas, Villistas, and other revolutionary groups overthrow and kill Carranza and then becomes president of Mexico. With him as a stable leader, the corruption and instability ceases. Such instability in Mexico though, can have been rightly confused to have been the case in other Latin American countries. Perhaps, it there were to be a slight difference, it is how the instability plagued across the whole country at one time with many head leaders involved. Furthermore, in Mexico, less military were involved in creating stability, or rather, creating stability.
The Term Paper on Mexico Country Report
The measures of economic development in Mexico include per capita GDP of about 9,000 dollars. Mexico has a population of about 110 million people. It has a relatively well developed infrastructure and communication systems. Adult literacy is about 94% for the males whereas 91% for the females. Most of the labor force is concentrated in the agricultural sector (4%), industries (26%) and service ...
Similar to a Latin American country, Mexico has also beholden more to foreigners than to the will of it people. Most other countries have grown dependent on foreign nations and has been for the better of such nations. The rich resources in the countries were exported to places such as Europe and the United States as they, in return, sold commodities back to those countries. Mexico, during the last century or so, has had important relationships with foreign nations. Specifically during 1880s-1900s, it were mostly the foreigners who built the railroad in Mexico and who profited from them. Because of such projects that took place in Mexico, over the last century, the debt has accumulated and dealing with it has caused further turmoil for the government. Their reliance and connection with foreign nations had very little to do with the will of its own people. Just like any other typical Latin American country however, that was usually the case. The rich got richer; the poor got poorer. The decisions that were made were usually not under the will of the people but more, it was the decisions of a few elite men and negotiations with foreigners.
The history of Mexico, especially during the last century, deserves its validity of being considered to be just another one of those Latin American countries. With corruption, instability, and being indebted to foreigners, Mexico proves to have shared a history of one that is very common to most Latin American countries. This past century not only prove the similarities in the history, but it also points out the overall “progress” Mexico has made. As of right now, Mexico’s future remains uncertain, but because of the similar history with neighboring countries, it would not be surprising at all to see Mexico’s future to end up to be just like any other Latin American countries’ future.
The Essay on Loren Baritz’s “God’s Country and American Know-How”
In Loren Baritz’s “God’s Country and American Know-How”, it briefly describes the birth of our nation, characteristics, and theories through out America’s history. “America would become god’s country” (435) is not only the title of the summary but the basis of our founding father’s thoughts. In the begin only few words were spoken of the ...
