Mexico is the federal constitutional republic and the largest Spanish-speaking country in North America. This is also a land of many complex civilizations with astronomical studies, monumental architecture, writing,militaries , and mathematics. In 1519, these complex civilizations were destroyed by the arrival of the Spanish. The country’s name is derived from the capital of the Aztec civilization Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
Pre-Columbian Mexico
The pre-Columbian history of Mexico is now known through the work of epigraphers and archeologists, and also through the history of clergyman and conquistadors. Campfire remains and ancient human footprints found in the Valley of Mexico are believed to be the earliest human remains in the world. Around 8000 BC, indigenous people started breeding maize plants, and pottery works started around 2300 BC. Between 1800 and 300 BC, many complex civilizations such as Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec began to flourish.
Spanish Explorers in Mexico
In 1519, Spain invaded the Aztec civilization and in 1521, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan was captured by a coalition between Spain and the Tlaxcaltecas. In 1517, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba explored the South Mexican shore. In 1518, Juan de Grijalva again explored the shores, and in 1519, the early conquistador, Hernando Cortes, entered the country from a coastal town which he later renamedPuerto de la Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. After capturing Tenochtitlan, it took two centuries for Spain to conquer all the empires of Mexico.
Colonial Mexico
The defeat of the Aztec civilization marked the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. The colonial period lasted for 300 years from 1521 to 1810, and during that time Mexico was known as New Spain. The Spaniards conquered the territory with dense populations and high civilizations, and also explored North America for treasure-laden cultures. Over the period of conquest thePre-Hispanic cultures combined with Spanish socio-religious tradition and formed the pluri-ethnic state which followed the feudal system of Spain. In 1821, Mexico obtained independence from the colonial rule of Spain.
The War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence that lasted from 1810 to 1821, was an armed battle between the Spanish colonial authorities and the people of Mexico. This war was led by Mestizos, Mexican-born Spaniards, and American Indians who wanted independence from the Spanish colonial rule. This war initially started as the peasants’ insurrection against their colonial rulers and finally ended as an alliance between conservatives and liberals. The independence from Spain was first proclaimed in 1810 and achieved in 1821 by the Treaty of Cordoba.
First Republic
The first republic was formed in Mexico with Guadalupe Victoria as its first president. At that time, the Mexican constitution was similar to the US constitution and the government was largely disregarded by most of its population. After a revolution, Gen.Anastasio Bustamante became president from 1830 to early 1832. In 1832, after the election, Santa Anna took office and in 1834, he abolished the federal constitution. In 1836, the inhabitants ofTexas declared independence from Mexico, which gave birth to the Republic of Texas. In 1845, Texas was annexed by the United States, and this was signed into law by President John Tyler.
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War which lasted from 1846 to 1848 was an armed battle between Mexico and the United States. This war took place due to the US annexation of Texas. Mexico considered Texas part of their territory so were upset when Texas became a part of the United States. The major effect of this war was Mexico surrendering the territories of Santa Fede Nuero Mexico and Alta California to the US under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo while also accepting the loss of the Rio Grande boundary and Texas to the US.
The 1857 Constitution
A new constitution was formed during the presidency of Comonfort. The new constitution, known as the 1857 constitution continued most of the privileges and revenues of the Roman Catholic Church of colonial era, but did not mandate the Catholic Church as the nation’s exclusive religion. This reform was not accepted by the conservatives and clergy, which eventually led to the excommunication ofComonfort and his administrative members.
The War of Reform
The War of Reform was the long struggle between conservatives and liberal forces in Mexico. Liberalists sought a federalist government, limiting the power of the Catholic Church and military control while Conservatives sought a centralist government with the Catholic Church and Military keeping their traditional roles. The conservatives controlled Mexico City and central Mexico. After the long battle, in 1860, the conservative forces surrendered to the liberal forces. But the guerrillas remained active in Mexico even after the loss of the conservative forces.
Second Mexican Empire
The second Mexican empire was formed in 1864 and lasted to 1867. This was established by Napoleon III of France to take advantage of the Mexican adventure to retake some of the grandeur of the old Napoleonic times. The intervention of the military made Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria the emperor of Mexico. European-style monarchial system was established by the French with some support from Spain and Austria.
The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican revolution was an armed battle that began in 1910 by Francisco I. Madero against the tyrant Porfirio Diaz. Many anarchists, socialists, liberals, and populist movements also took part in the revolution. The revolt changed into a multi-sided civil war and after long struggles, a Mexican constitution was established in 1917. The revolution was considered to have continued until 1920, with some minor outbreaks. This revolution was the main trigger factor for the foundation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929, which was later renamed as the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Until the 2000 general election, under various leaders, the PRI held power of Mexico.
Modern Mexico
The PRI government was backed strongly by many peasant organizations and pro-government labor unions. In the late 1970s, Mexican economy became highly dependent on the oil industries, which lasted until the 1986 oil price collapse. In 1994, Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA with the United States and Canada. Also in 1994, The Mexican peso crises or economic crisis happened in Mexico with the decrease of the Mexican Peso. In 2000, the PRI lost its first election to the Conservative National Action Party.
Mexico is the federal constitutional republic and the largest Spanish-speaking country in North America. This is also a land of many complex civilizations with astronomical studies, monumental architecture, writing,militaries , and mathematics. In 1519, these complex civilizations were destroyed by the arrival of the Spanish. The country’s name is derived from the capital of the Aztec civilization Mexico-Tenochtitlan.
Pre-Columbian Mexico
The pre-Columbian history of Mexico is now known through the work of epigraphers and archeologists, and also through the history of clergyman and conquistadors. Campfire remains and ancient human footprints found in the Valley of Mexico are believed to be the earliest human remains in the world. Around 8000 BC, indigenous people started breeding maize plants, and pottery works started around 2300 BC. Between 1800 and 300 BC, many complex civilizations such as Olmec, Teotihuacan, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec began to flourish.
Spanish Explorers in Mexico
In 1519, Spain invaded the Aztec civilization and in 1521, the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan was captured by a coalition between Spain and the Tlaxcaltecas. In 1517, Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba explored the South Mexican shore. In 1518, Juan de Grijalva again explored the shores, and in 1519, the early conquistador, Hernando Cortes, entered the country from a coastal town which he later renamedPuerto de la Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz. After capturing Tenochtitlan, it took two centuries for Spain to conquer all the empires of Mexico.
Colonial Mexico
The defeat of the Aztec civilization marked the beginning of Spanish colonial rule in Mexico. The colonial period lasted for 300 years from 1521 to 1810, and during that time Mexico was known as New Spain. The Spaniards conquered the territory with dense populations and high civilizations, and also explored North America for treasure-laden cultures. Over the period of conquest thePre-Hispanic cultures combined with Spanish socio-religious tradition and formed the pluri-ethnic state which followed the feudal system of Spain. In 1821, Mexico obtained independence from the colonial rule of Spain.
The War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence that lasted from 1810 to 1821, was an armed battle between the Spanish colonial authorities and the people of Mexico. This war was led by Mestizos, Mexican-born Spaniards, and American Indians who wanted independence from the Spanish colonial rule. This war initially started as the peasants’ insurrection against their colonial rulers and finally ended as an alliance between conservatives and liberals. The independence from Spain was first proclaimed in 1810 and achieved in 1821 by the Treaty of Cordoba.
First Republic
The first republic was formed in Mexico with Guadalupe Victoria as its first president. At that time, the Mexican constitution was similar to the US constitution and the government was largely disregarded by most of its population. After a revolution, Gen.Anastasio Bustamante became president from 1830 to early 1832. In 1832, after the election, Santa Anna took office and in 1834, he abolished the federal constitution. In 1836, the inhabitants ofTexas declared independence from Mexico, which gave birth to the Republic of Texas. In 1845, Texas was annexed by the United States, and this was signed into law by President John Tyler.
Mexican-American War
The Mexican-American War which lasted from 1846 to 1848 was an armed battle between Mexico and the United States. This war took place due to the US annexation of Texas. Mexico considered Texas part of their territory so were upset when Texas became a part of the United States. The major effect of this war was Mexico surrendering the territories of Santa Fede Nuero Mexico and Alta California to the US under the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo while also accepting the loss of the Rio Grande boundary and Texas to the US.
The 1857 Constitution
A new constitution was formed during the presidency of Comonfort. The new constitution, known as the 1857 constitution continued most of the privileges and revenues of the Roman Catholic Church of colonial era, but did not mandate the Catholic Church as the nation’s exclusive religion. This reform was not accepted by the conservatives and clergy, which eventually led to the excommunication ofComonfort and his administrative members.
The War of Reform
The War of Reform was the long struggle between conservatives and liberal forces in Mexico. Liberalists sought a federalist government, limiting the power of the Catholic Church and military control while Conservatives sought a centralist government with the Catholic Church and Military keeping their traditional roles. The conservatives controlled Mexico City and central Mexico. After the long battle, in 1860, the conservative forces surrendered to the liberal forces. But the guerrillas remained active in Mexico even after the loss of the conservative forces.
Second Mexican Empire
The second Mexican empire was formed in 1864 and lasted to 1867. This was established by Napoleon III of France to take advantage of the Mexican adventure to retake some of the grandeur of the old Napoleonic times. The intervention of the military made Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria the emperor of Mexico. European-style monarchial system was established by the French with some support from Spain and Austria.
The Mexican Revolution
The Mexican revolution was an armed battle that began in 1910 by Francisco I. Madero against the tyrant Porfirio Diaz. Many anarchists, socialists, liberals, and populist movements also took part in the revolution. The revolt changed into a multi-sided civil war and after long struggles, a Mexican constitution was established in 1917. The revolution was considered to have continued until 1920, with some minor outbreaks. This revolution was the main trigger factor for the foundation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929, which was later renamed as the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Until the 2000 general election, under various leaders, the PRI held power of Mexico.
Modern Mexico
The PRI government was backed strongly by many peasant organizations and pro-government labor unions. In the late 1970s, Mexican economy became highly dependent on the oil industries, which lasted until the 1986 oil price collapse. In 1994, Mexico joined the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA with the United States and Canada. Also in 1994, The Mexican peso crises or economic crisis happened in Mexico with the decrease of the Mexican Peso. In 2000, the PRI lost its first election to the Conservative National Action Party.