History of Mexico Exam 2 Questions
and Answers
Porfiriato - ANSWER-1876-1911, period in which Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico as a dictator. It is also a time
of great modernization of Mexico and specifically Mexico City. It was also one of the first periods of
sustained peace and international cooperation with Mexico and other countries.
Carmen Romero Rubio - ANSWER-Married to Diaz from 1880-1915, Very influential in the political realm
of Mexico and aided in Diaz's climb to prominence, and helped him be the first Mexican leader favored
by both conservative and liberal politicians.
Positivism - ANSWER-Darwinism essentially, a survival of the fittest ideology that Diaz believed in. It was
where the idea that Mexico had to modernize and westernize in order to survive as a nation. Divided
time into primitive, colonial, and scientific times. Mexico was in colonial. Also caused Mexican culture to
be pushed to be more european.
Railroads - ANSWER-Thousands of miles were built during the Porfiriato. It allowed Diaz to maintain
power by having a mobile army in his command, and also improved the economic situation of Mexico by
being able to transport mining materials and other products.
Modernity - ANSWER-A goal of Diaz. Brought running water, transportation, and industrialization to
Mexico. Was brought at the cost of Mexico being controlled by foreign investors. Also brought Mexico
onto the world stage for other countries because of its accomplishments.
Vecindades - ANSWER-Residencies of lower class mexicans. Essentially slums near factories that kept the
different levels of mexican society separate.
Repression - ANSWER-Diaz's main stategy to continue the modernization of mexico. Censored
newspapers that comment on policies. Arrested and kill strikers at Cananea and Rio Blanco. Arrested
Madero while running for office in 1910.
Commercial Agriculture - ANSWER-Caused food crisis in mexico due to lack of edible crops. Henequen,
sisal, tobacco, and cotton were grown instead of food. And ejidos continued to be taken to grow these
cash crops.
Debt Peonage - ANSWER-Hacendados would essentially make it impossible for lower class workers to
pay off their debts. They would be in an unending cycle of rising debt and never making enough to pay it
off.
Food Crisis - ANSWER-Caused by the boom in commercial agriculture. Food was not being grown by
those on ejidos or on farms because cash crops were being produced instead.
Cientificos - ANSWER-Beaurocrats who supported diaz. Educated and were called the cientificos because
the scientific phase of positivism.
Jose Yves Limantour - ANSWER-Treasurer of Mexico. Stated how the educated elite of mexico couldnt
even get managerial positions in mexico becasue of the foreign owned stuff.
, Ramon Corral - ANSWER-governor of Sonora who Diaz used in order to get more time in office. Corral
was known for shipping native people to labor camps and was used as a foil to diaz.
Anarchism - ANSWER-philosophy that was gaining traction in mexico. mainly popular because past
governments were unsatisfying.
Ricardo Flores Magon - ANSWER-Reporter for Regneracion newspaper in Mexico. Also leader in PLM.
Very radical liberal.
PLM - ANSWER-Liberal party of mexico. radical. elite upperclass members including ricardo flores magon.
Was involved in strikes. Supported Madero while he was in exile.
Regeneracion - ANSWER-Anarchist newspaper led by ricardo flores magon. Critisized Diaz and
governments in general.
Cananea Strike - ANSWER-1906 - ASARCO Copper mine workers striked to opposed high rents. Arizona
rangers arrest them on Diaz's behalf, raising questions around his loyalty to Mexico.
Rio Blanco Strike - ANSWER-1907 - Textile factory in Veracruz striked. Federal troops were called,
hundreds killed by execution.
"Mexico for the mexicans" - ANSWER-
John Kenneth Turner - ANSWER-Investigative journalist who posed as an american investor to see the
human rights violations of Diaz. coined term "barbarous" mexico, was sensational in america and
showed mexico's humanitarian violations.
James Creelman - ANSWER-interviewed Diaz for Person's Magazine and got Diaz to admit that there will
be open elections.
Francisco I Madero - ANSWER-Head of the Mexican Revolution against Diaz. Was a wealthy, landowning,
lawyer who didn't completely grasp the popular demand of Mexico. Was president of Mexico from 1911-
1913 until his assassination. Later became a martyr for democracy in Mexico.
Presidential succession of 1910 - ANSWER-Madero's book as to why they should free themselves from
dictatorship and Diaz. Was about democratic reform and hinted at land reform, which was the biggest
part. Got lower class to support.
Plan de San Luis Potosi - ANSWER-November 20, 1910 - Madero's announcement to Diaz that if he does
not step down, there will be an election. (was named this to seem official bc he really said it in San
Antonio Texas) "A bajo Diaz!"
Official revolution - ANSWER-The side of the revolution made up of educated landowners who were
political outsiders. Favored democratic reform overall.
Army of the North - ANSWER-Led by Pancho Villa, the Army of the North was Madero's main military
force. supported by educated landowners. tens of thousands join.
Vensutiano Carranza - ANSWER-Governor of Coahuila. Major confidant of Madero and future prez of
mexico. was called "primer jefe" of the Northern Army. Main leader of the Constitutionalists and Official
Revolution. Was assassinated after trying to avoid having a presidential election in 1920.
and Answers
Porfiriato - ANSWER-1876-1911, period in which Porfirio Diaz ruled Mexico as a dictator. It is also a time
of great modernization of Mexico and specifically Mexico City. It was also one of the first periods of
sustained peace and international cooperation with Mexico and other countries.
Carmen Romero Rubio - ANSWER-Married to Diaz from 1880-1915, Very influential in the political realm
of Mexico and aided in Diaz's climb to prominence, and helped him be the first Mexican leader favored
by both conservative and liberal politicians.
Positivism - ANSWER-Darwinism essentially, a survival of the fittest ideology that Diaz believed in. It was
where the idea that Mexico had to modernize and westernize in order to survive as a nation. Divided
time into primitive, colonial, and scientific times. Mexico was in colonial. Also caused Mexican culture to
be pushed to be more european.
Railroads - ANSWER-Thousands of miles were built during the Porfiriato. It allowed Diaz to maintain
power by having a mobile army in his command, and also improved the economic situation of Mexico by
being able to transport mining materials and other products.
Modernity - ANSWER-A goal of Diaz. Brought running water, transportation, and industrialization to
Mexico. Was brought at the cost of Mexico being controlled by foreign investors. Also brought Mexico
onto the world stage for other countries because of its accomplishments.
Vecindades - ANSWER-Residencies of lower class mexicans. Essentially slums near factories that kept the
different levels of mexican society separate.
Repression - ANSWER-Diaz's main stategy to continue the modernization of mexico. Censored
newspapers that comment on policies. Arrested and kill strikers at Cananea and Rio Blanco. Arrested
Madero while running for office in 1910.
Commercial Agriculture - ANSWER-Caused food crisis in mexico due to lack of edible crops. Henequen,
sisal, tobacco, and cotton were grown instead of food. And ejidos continued to be taken to grow these
cash crops.
Debt Peonage - ANSWER-Hacendados would essentially make it impossible for lower class workers to
pay off their debts. They would be in an unending cycle of rising debt and never making enough to pay it
off.
Food Crisis - ANSWER-Caused by the boom in commercial agriculture. Food was not being grown by
those on ejidos or on farms because cash crops were being produced instead.
Cientificos - ANSWER-Beaurocrats who supported diaz. Educated and were called the cientificos because
the scientific phase of positivism.
Jose Yves Limantour - ANSWER-Treasurer of Mexico. Stated how the educated elite of mexico couldnt
even get managerial positions in mexico becasue of the foreign owned stuff.
, Ramon Corral - ANSWER-governor of Sonora who Diaz used in order to get more time in office. Corral
was known for shipping native people to labor camps and was used as a foil to diaz.
Anarchism - ANSWER-philosophy that was gaining traction in mexico. mainly popular because past
governments were unsatisfying.
Ricardo Flores Magon - ANSWER-Reporter for Regneracion newspaper in Mexico. Also leader in PLM.
Very radical liberal.
PLM - ANSWER-Liberal party of mexico. radical. elite upperclass members including ricardo flores magon.
Was involved in strikes. Supported Madero while he was in exile.
Regeneracion - ANSWER-Anarchist newspaper led by ricardo flores magon. Critisized Diaz and
governments in general.
Cananea Strike - ANSWER-1906 - ASARCO Copper mine workers striked to opposed high rents. Arizona
rangers arrest them on Diaz's behalf, raising questions around his loyalty to Mexico.
Rio Blanco Strike - ANSWER-1907 - Textile factory in Veracruz striked. Federal troops were called,
hundreds killed by execution.
"Mexico for the mexicans" - ANSWER-
John Kenneth Turner - ANSWER-Investigative journalist who posed as an american investor to see the
human rights violations of Diaz. coined term "barbarous" mexico, was sensational in america and
showed mexico's humanitarian violations.
James Creelman - ANSWER-interviewed Diaz for Person's Magazine and got Diaz to admit that there will
be open elections.
Francisco I Madero - ANSWER-Head of the Mexican Revolution against Diaz. Was a wealthy, landowning,
lawyer who didn't completely grasp the popular demand of Mexico. Was president of Mexico from 1911-
1913 until his assassination. Later became a martyr for democracy in Mexico.
Presidential succession of 1910 - ANSWER-Madero's book as to why they should free themselves from
dictatorship and Diaz. Was about democratic reform and hinted at land reform, which was the biggest
part. Got lower class to support.
Plan de San Luis Potosi - ANSWER-November 20, 1910 - Madero's announcement to Diaz that if he does
not step down, there will be an election. (was named this to seem official bc he really said it in San
Antonio Texas) "A bajo Diaz!"
Official revolution - ANSWER-The side of the revolution made up of educated landowners who were
political outsiders. Favored democratic reform overall.
Army of the North - ANSWER-Led by Pancho Villa, the Army of the North was Madero's main military
force. supported by educated landowners. tens of thousands join.
Vensutiano Carranza - ANSWER-Governor of Coahuila. Major confidant of Madero and future prez of
mexico. was called "primer jefe" of the Northern Army. Main leader of the Constitutionalists and Official
Revolution. Was assassinated after trying to avoid having a presidential election in 1920.
