“The Mexican Revolution was not started by the oppressed; it began with a division within the dominant elite.” Discuss.

Responses will offer a considered and balanced review of the role of different social classes in the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution so as to determine the extent to which the divisions within the dominant elite played the largest part. A possible starting point could be to offer definitions of the “the elite” and “the oppressed” in the context of the Mexican Revolution. The former includes Diaz’s government, regional caudillos, and the higher social classes of wealthy hacendados. The oppressed makes reference to the indigenous population, peasants and workers.

Indicative content

The role of the elite

• Diaz’s centralized rule ignored the Constitution of 1857 and excluded economically important groups from political participation.
• Diaz´s pronouncement that Mexico was ready for democracy raised expectations and led to divisions within his own government as well as within the political elite.
• Federalist regional elites clashed with the central government’s increasing attempts to control resources, particularly when the economy began to show financial difficulties.
• The provincial elites in the North believed they were being denied opportunities for economic development which were given to foreign companies and investors.
• By 1910, there was a new generation of young leaders who demanded participation in the political life of their country.
• The role of individual members of the elites (Madero, for example, was a wealthy hacendado from Coahuila) could be included.

The role of other social classes

• Mexico’s middle classes were dissatisfied with their limited access to political participation as well as with the benefits the government offered foreign businessmen; they also expressed discontent about government neglect of public services.
• The industrial working class went on strike against food shortages, unemployment and inflation and were repressed by the police.
• Peasant displacements as a result of the expansion of US economic interests caused unrest.
• The rural areas with better communications (for example Morelos) saw the influence of political ideas such as anarchism and nationalism and the formation of peasant guerrilla armies and revolutionary workers’ organizations.

The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, the list is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.

Examiners are reminded of the need to apply the markbands that provide the “best fit” to the responses given by candidates and to award credit wherever it is possible to do so.

[20 marks]