Mexican Revolution: Key Figures, Reforms, and Treaties
Implications of the Mexican Revolution
With the 1917 Constitution, the revolutionary principles were institutionalized, ending the military phase of the Revolution. Under President Obregon (1920-1924), some of the objectives of the Revolution were put into practice. He began the agrarian reform and joined with the CROM (Regional Confederation of Mexican Workers). He was succeeded by Plutarco Elias Calles (1924-28), who controlled the political power in Mexico until 1934. During his mandate, presidential power was strengthened, and conflict with the Catholic Church was revived. In 1928, after the assassination of Obregon, Calles declared the end of the era of warlords and founded an official political party named the National Revolutionary Party (PNR), the precursor of the current Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI).
The period between 1928 and 1934 is known as the Maximato. Calles ruled through three presidents, choosing the candidates for president and government officials.
In 1934, Lazaro Cardenas reached the presidency, marking a new stage in which revolutionary objectives were implemented, especially regarding land reform. Cardenas increased his power by relying on the CTM (Confederation of Mexican Workers), founded in 1936, and finally implemented Zapata’s program. Cardenas held a series of nationalizations and promoted education policy. During his tenure, the PNR was renamed the Mexican Revolutionary Party (PRM).
Years later, another president, Lopez Mateos (1958), gave new impetus to the reform and restarted nationalizations. From 1970, during President Echevarria’s term, the global economic crisis seriously affected Mexico. Thereafter, in the 1980s, Mexico became one of the countries with the highest levels of external debt.
Key Treaties After World War I
Treaty of Versailles
Signed on June 28, 1919, between the Allies and Germany. The German empire was split in two by the Polish Corridor, demilitarized, its colonies confiscated, supervised, ordered to pay huge compensations, and treated as responsible for the conflict. This treaty caused great bitterness among the Germans and was the initial seed for the next global conflict. The League of Nations was also created with this treaty.
Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye
Signed on September 10, 1919, between the Allies and Austria. This treaty established the breakup of the former Habsburg monarchy, the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Austria was limited to some areas in which only German was spoken.
Treaty of Sèvres
Signed on August 10, 1920, between the Ottoman Empire and the Allies (excluding Russia and the USA). The treaty left the Ottomans without most of their former possessions, limiting it to Constantinople and part of Asia Minor.
Treaty of Trianon
Signed on June 4, 1920, by the Allies with Hungary, which ruled the delivery of territory to Czechoslovakia, Romania, and Yugoslavia.
Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine
The Treaty of Neuilly-sur-Seine was signed on November 27, 1919, in Neuilly-sur-Seine (France) between Bulgaria and the victorious powers. In accordance with the provisions of the treaty, Bulgaria recognized the new Kingdom of Yugoslavia, paid $400 million in compensation, and reduced its army to 20,000. In addition, Bulgaria lost a strip of land to Yugoslavia in the West and gave Western Thrace to Greece, leaving it without access to the Aegean Sea.