When was mexico colonized

He established the country's oil industry, promoted good relations with other countries, and encouraged foreign investment in Mexico. The Indians found themselves with less land than ever, city and rural workers were impoverished, and political opposition was suppressed. Pancho Villa, a former bandit and guerrilla fighter, led the uprising in the north. In the south, Emiliano Zapata, a tough peasant leader, took up the cause of the landless Indians.

Madero, the liberal son of a wealthy landowner and a champion of political reform, was elected president in In the years that followed, Mexico was torn by almost continuous violence in the struggle among rival revolutionary leaders. Victoriano Huerta, a general supported by the conservatives, had Madero assassinated in and seized power.

Villa and Zapata rebelled against Huerta, as did Venustiano Carranza, the governor of Coahuila state. Huerta was deposed and Carranza became president in By , however, Carranza was at war with both Villa and Zapata, particularly over the slow pace of land reform. In the victorious Carranza called for a convention to draft a new constitution. It regulated hours and wages for workers and upheld their right to unionize and strike. It also affirmed the government's right to reclaim ownership of all land, as well as the resources beneath the surface, in the name of the nation.

Although socially progressive, many provisions of the new constitution were not carried out because of a lack of funds and political will. He also enforced the constitutional provisions against the church, which led to the bloody but unsuccessful Cristero revolt by militant Catholics.

Under Calles' successors, however, the pace of reform slowed down. The three held office between and Although he retired as president in , Calles remained for some six years thereafter the most powerful figure in Mexican political life. In , in order to stabilize the country's fragmented political system, he created a new party, the National Revolutionary Party, to include the various revolutionary factions. It was the predecessor of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which remains the dominant political party today.

He recast the party, making it national in scope and bringing it under presidential control, and he undertook a number of bold economic and social changes. He nationalized the oil industry much of which was foreign-owned and the railroads, distributed more land to the poor than any previous president, and greatly increased the number of schools. While Mexico did achieve rapid industrialization, it was accompanied by the great migration of people to the cities, high unemployment, and inflation.

But his free-spending policies and falling prices for oil led to an economic crisis in His successor, Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado , sought to curb wasteful programs and bring the country's enormous foreign debt under control. Efforts to improve the economy continued under Carlos Salinas de Gortari , who returned the nationalized banking system to private ownership and sold off state-owned steel mills, copper mines, and airlines.

But the Salinas years also saw an increase in drug trafficking, official corruption particularly within the country's police forces , and a revolt in poverty-stricken Chiapas state by the Zapatista National Liberation Army, a peasant guerrilla group. To restore the reputation of the PRI, which had come under increasing attack because of its single-party rule and entrenched corruption, Zedillo introduced political reforms intended to make Mexico a true multiparty democracy.

He promised fair and honest elections, consultations with the opposition on key issues, a strengthened judiciary, and political democratization.

He also negotiated with the Zapatista rebels, although violence in Chiapas continued. Zedillo's reforms contributed in to the PRI's loss of control of the lower house of the legislature for the first time in the party's history.

In early , opposition candidates won six gubernatorial races, but by the end of the year, the PRI appeared to be regaining strength. Create a List. List Name Save. Rename this List. Rename this list. List Name Delete from selected List. Save to. Save to:. Save Create a List. Create a list. Save Back. Mexico: History. Grades 6—8. Background Mexico is an ancient land that, long before the arrival of the Europeans, had already seen the rise and fall of great Indian empires.

The Era of Santa Anna In l the presidency passed to Santa Anna, who dominated the country's life for more than twenty years. A New Political Party Although he retired as president in , Calles remained for some six years thereafter the most powerful figure in Mexican political life. View not found. Download the PDF from here. Related Subjects.

Central America. About Us. Another During January, the city of Morelia celebrates the fiesta of the Immaculate Conception, and on the 17th of that month, pets and livestock are adorned with flowers and ribbons for the fiesta of San Antonio Abad.

This day is set aside to remember and honor the lives of the deceased while celebrating the continuation of life. During this period, families celebrate the spirits of departed loved ones in various ways, including erecting ofrendas small altars in their houses, decorating tombs and eating skull-shaped candies calaveras and sweet breads.

It is a time for celebrating ancestors—with whom many believe they can communicate during these events—and embracing death as natural and inevitable rather than as something to be feared.

Widely celebrated patriotic events include Independence Day September 16 and Cinco de Mayo May 5 , which commemorates the Mexican victory over French invaders in Cuisine Mexican cuisine varies greatly by region but depends heavily on an ancient trinity of staples: corn maize , beans and squash.

Another staple, rice, is usually served alongside beans. Mexicans also tend to make liberal use of avocados often in the form of guacamole , chili peppers, amaranth, tomatoes, papayas, potatoes, lentils, plantains and vanilla a flavoring that is pre-Columbian in origin.

Salt and hot peppers often served in a red or green sauce are the most common condiments; maize tortillas complement most main dishes. Popular dishes vary by region and individual circumstances, but some of the more widely enjoyed foods are tortillas flat bread wraps made from wheat or maize flour , enchiladas, cornmeal tamales cooked within corn husks or banana leaves , burritos, soft—shell tacos, tortas sandwiches of chicken, pork or cheese and vegetables enclosed in a hard roll , stuffed chili peppers and quesadillas tortillas filled with soft cheese and meat.

Other favorites are soups and spicy stews such as menudo made from beef tripe and fresh vegetables and pozole stewed hominy and pork. Seafood dishes such as pulpo octopus , chipachole spicy crab soup and ceviche seafood marinated in lime or lemon juice are popular in coastal areas.

In Oaxaca and a few other states, fried and spiced chapulines grasshoppers are considered a delicacy. A favorite among the Nahuatl Indians is huitlacoche corn fungus served wrapped in fat—fried quesadillas. Among the preferred desserts are sweet breads, chocolates and dulce de leche caramelized milk , which is also called leche quemada or burned milk. On city sidewalks and streets, little bells announce the approach of paleteros, ambulatory vendors whose small insulated carts are filled with frozen paletas popsicle-like treats made from creams or juices and ice cream.

Sugar—battered flautas deep—fried filled corn tortillas are popular with children of all ages. Meals are often washed down with aguas frescas watery sweet drinks, usually roselle flowers , horchata a milky rice—based drink and drinks flavored with watermelon or other fresh fruit. Also popular are licuados fruit shakes or smoothies.

During the Christmas holidays and on the Day of the Dead, one of the more popular drinks is atole or atol , a hot combination of corn or rice meal, water, and spices. Several well-known alcoholic beverages made in Mexico are derived from the maguey and agave plants. Maguey—also known as the Century Plant—is used to make pulque, an inexpensive drink.

The plant was cultivated by many small farmers because it could thrive on infertile, rocky soil. The drink takes its name from Tequila, Jalisco, where it originated. Another alcoholic drink made from agave is mescal, which is produced primarily in Oaxaca. Though diverse in their styles and subject matter, each drew upon personal and social experiences to create their work, which informed the sensibilities of worldwide audiences and inspired generations of young artists.

Murals, an ancient art form, grace the walls of public and private buildings throughout Mexico. Generations of muralists—influenced by artistic legacies traceable to the Aztecs, Mayans and other pre-Hispanic civilizations—have added their stories to those of their ancestors, captivating passersby with evocative figures and landscapes captured in rich colors and bold strokes. Music Music, like food, is a mainstay of Mexican social life. The styles are diverse and include both traditional and modern genres.

Perhaps the best-known Mexican genre is the ranchero. Popularized after the revolution, the ranchera came to symbolize the new national consciousness and focuses largely on love, patriotism and nature. Because of its familiar themes and rhythms, this song style has become popular among mariachi musicians. Highly recognizable in their customary silver—studded charro cowboy outfits and wide—brimmed hats, mariachi groups have enjoyed notable commercial success and are often featured at festivals, banquets and wedding.

Becoming increasingly popular among Mexican youths are modern genres such as pop, hip—hop and rock—musical forms that gained popularity during the last century in the United States. Some regions feature plays that recount events from local history. In other cases, plays drawn from universal themes or celebrate such common concerns of daily life as love, marriage, joy, betrayal and hope. During Semana Santa the holy week from Easter until Palm Sunday , many communities enact a full passion play that depicts the events surrounding the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Many of these performances are impressively staged and draw large crowds. Based on her theatrical portrayal of the internationally recognized Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, Salma Hayek became the first Mexican actress to be nominated for an Academy Award.

Literature Mexican writers have gained reputations by dealing with questions of universal significance. One of the best known is Samuel Ramos, whose philosophical speculations on humanity and culture in Mexico influenced post— writers in several genres.

Unlike other Mexican sports, soccer can emotionally divide the country, especially when Mexican rivals meet each other. People from all over the country attend matches, which are usually held on Sundays. Winning the coveted Copa Libertadores, the Latin American equivalent of the European Cup, is an honor that motivates both players and fans alike. This event was one of the most memorable in sports history as Pele and his Brazilian team won for the third time, making them the first country ever to win the tournament more than twice.

Mexico hosted the event again in CharreadaA charreada is a Mexican—style rodeo. Unlike American rodeo in which participants are awarded prizes according to how quickly they perform, charreada focuses primarily on style and skill. In a circular arena approximately 40 meters 44 yards in diameter, Mexican cowboys and cowgirls wearing traditional charro cowboy clothing participate in a series of events involving bulls and horses.

Baseball Along the Gulf of Mexico and in the northern Mexican states, baseball is very popular. Bullfighting Also known as fiesta brava, bullfighting has been popular in Mexico for the last years. Like Spanish bullfighters, Mexican matadores perform specific moves, occasionally using a piece of red cloth to attract a bull in a graceful manner. Bullfights are often preceded by festivities such as rodeos, pig chases and dances.

Lucha Libre Mexican style professional wrestling, called Lucha Libre free fight embraces all styles of wrestling: submission, high flying comedy and brawling. The sport achieves an extraordinary level of artistic expression through costuming and bravado performance. El Santo, possibly the most famous Lucha Libre wrestler, often starred in films, wore his silver mask throughout his life and was eventually buried in it. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us!

Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. From the stone cities of the Maya to the might of the Aztecs, from its conquest by Spain to its rise as a modern nation, Mexico boasts a rich history and cultural heritage spanning more than 10, years.

This detailed timeline of Mexican history explores such themes as the The city has This low, flat state still has a large indigenous population that lives primarily in rural areas.

Contrary to popular belief, Tabasco was not named after the spicy peppers of the same name, though the state is a major producer of other farm products, including cacao, coconuts, Tlaxcala is home to three famous bullrings. Chiapas ranks second among the Mexican states in the production of cacao, the product used Famed as the birthplace of revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata, Morelos has long been home to Nahua Indians, who still engage in subsistence farming throughout the state.

Today, the state of Morelos is densely settled and urbanized, with one-fifth of its population concentrated Today, the state is famous for its beautiful beaches and Carnaval, an annual celebration featuring music, dance and spectacular parades. Named for the revolutionary leader Miguel Hidalgo, the state is fiercely independent: The Mexican Revolution lasted longer in this state than in any other. Today, Hidalgo relies on extensive silver, gold and mineral deposits to fuel its economy.

La Huasteca, a fertile lowland Live TV. This Day In History.