Answer to Question #279451 in English for Anush J.

Question

According to the text, what problems arose in Mexico during La Reforma and during the Porfiriato? Which groups of people had the most serious complaints/problems during La Reforma and the Porfiriato? What makes you say this?

Answer 1

Porfirio Díaz was president of Mexico longer than anyone else in its history. After his heroism in leading the troops against the French, he tried to gain the Presidency through a coup against President Benito Juárez in the abortive Revolt of La Noria in 1871. His Revolt of Tuxtepec in 1876 against President Sebastían Lerdo de Tejada prior to the 1876 elections was successful ultimately and he served as President from November 23, 1876 to November 30, 1880. During his term, he placated U.S. investors and reestablished relations with European powers.

Manuel González was elected President for the next four-year term, while Díaz served as Minister of Development and Governor of Oaxaca. In 1884, Díaz returned to the office, not to relinquish it until 1911. During his presidency, Díaz and his advisers transformed Mexico by building railroads, schools, and installing overall infrastructure. They developed the beginnings of an oil industry and coaxed foreign money into mines and factories. However, his government did this at the expense of basic political freedoms, and economic control. Many critics were imprisoned or assassinated by the regime. As the decades went on, Díaz increasingly relied on voter fraud and the military to preserve him in office.

After 1900, the arrangement started to deteriorate due to the president’s advanced age, and the lack of an agreed-upon successor, increasing nationalism both political and economic, and simply bad luck in part generated by economy.

Porfirio Diaz. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-100275 (b&w film copy neg.)