Question
“The Mexican Revolution was not started by the oppressed; it began with a division within the dominant elite.” Discuss.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
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, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators 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.
Question
Examine the impact of the Mexican revolution on the arts and education.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates will need to consider the interrelationship between the Mexican Revolution and changes (or not) in arts and education. Links between the material used by the candidates and the ways in which it relates to the Mexican Revolution should be clearly established.
Indicative content
Education
• Education during the revolution aimed at promoting nationalist and socialist values as well as equal access to learning opportunities.
• Primary education became free and compulsory for all Mexicans offering similar education levels to all citizens regardless social conditions.
• Spanish was taught to indigenous populations so they could be better integrated into society.
• Literacy campaigns were organized in rural areas.
• Candidates may refer in more detail to reforms under Vasconcelos.
The Arts
• Artistic cultural nationalism was the promotion of more popular arts that reached the masses and depicted social and political issues.
• The Muralist movement (Rivera, Siqueiros, Orozco) and the role of the arts in the propaganda of the revolution could be considered. Murals were commissioned for public buildings and they depicted the aims of the Mexican Revolution as well as indigenous issues.
• There was greater prevalence of indigenous topics.
• Some artists supported the revolution in their work while others showed criticism of its caudillos.
• Some candidates may refer to music as an art form and this is acceptable.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators 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.
Question
“Zapata was more revolutionary than Villa.” Discuss.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Ideology, aims, methods and other factors may be considered as relevant criteria for reviewing the “revolutionary” qualities of the leaders. Candidates should consider a definition of the term “revolutionary” in the context of the Mexican revolution in order to determine whether Zapata was more revolutionary than Villa.
Indicative content
• Zapata’s aims, represented by the motto “Land and Liberty” and the Ayala Plan, gave form to peasants’ aspirations. Although Villa was initially sympathetic to the Ayala Plan, he didn’t carry out significant land reforms in the territory under his control but allowed for the development of a new “bourgeoisie of hacendados” within the Northern Army instead.
• They both initially supported Madero, although Zapata later distanced himself because Madero did not fulfil his land redistribution promises while Villa defended him against Orozco.
• After Madero’s overthrow, Zapata in the south and Villa in the north led the fight against Huerta.
• Both Zapata and Villa used violent methods that included the destruction of cattle, livestock and homes as well as murder of opponents.
• Zapata’s peasant supporters fought for their cause only within their territory and he had many difficulties in supplying his men with weapons. Villa used more unorthodox methods. He recruited bandits and cowboys, both of whom were groups that were prepared for a wide range of operations. Villa also raided US territory and smuggled weapons back across the US border in to Mexico.
• It could be claimed that Villa was more successful in the battlefield and had less interest in politics while Zapata’s agrarian reforms became a model for Latin American peasant revolutions.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators 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.
Question
Evaluate the impact of US efforts to influence the Mexican Revolution.
▶️Answer/Explanation
Ans:
Candidates are required to appraise how far the US had an impact on the events and outcome of the Mexican Revolution. Although some candidates may include material on the reasons for US involvement, the focus of their responses should be on the effects of US intervention on the revolution.
Indicative content
• US intervention in the Mexican Revolution was both diplomatic and military.
• US intervention contributed to the removal of Madero and the rise of Huerta; however, President Wilson later refused to recognize Huerta as the legitimate President of Mexico (although he failed to secure his resignation). This led to US military intervention and the occupation of Veracruz in 1914. The occupation did not topple Huerta immediately but it weakened him and encouraged Villa, Zapata and Carranza to defy his authority. In addition to this, the US provided weapons to the revolutionary forces of Venustiano Carranza.
• In 1916, the US led a punitive intervention against Villa. It failed to capture him and, instead, strengthened his popularity among Mexicans. Pershing’s incursion into Mexican territory increased nationalism in Mexico and pushed the two nations to the brink of war. It also weakened Carranza’s government as he was criticized for failing to halt the invasion.
• US troops withdrew in 1917 and the Wilson administration formally recognized the new Mexican government.
• Overall, US intervention left the people of Mexico resentful towards the US.
The above material is an indication of what candidates may elect to write about in their responses. However, it is not exhaustive and no set answer is required.
Examiners and moderators 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