The Mexican revolution started in 1910, the government was a dictatorship/oligarchy (favored wealthy landowners and elitists). The president was Porfirio Diaz, most did not favor him and his policies. He had been in power since 1876 except for a short break between 1880 and 1884. Up for his seventh reelection. In 1908 he established a “democratic election” when he basically rigged the entire thing by having his only opponent, Francisco Madero arrested and then declaring himself president. Francisco Madero wrote “Plan de San Luis Potosi” from prison and said to revolt on November 20th, it was ultimately a failure but it did spark a revolutionary hope/mindset in the people of Mexico.
Pascual Orozco and Pancho Villa took their small armies and started raiding local government garrisons. In the spring of 1911, the revolutionary forces took over the city Ciudad Juárez, forced Díaz to resign, and declared Madero president. Madero’s presidency was a failure from the start. He did not give back land the displaced native Americans and past allies turned to enemies. General Victoriano Huerta, representing Madero, defeats Orozco and arrests Pancho Villa, who had turned against him. Huerta leads a coup against Madero, who is arrested and jailed. February 1913 President Madero is shot to death.
Huerta declares himself President of Mexico. The United States declares itself against Huerta. Victoriano Huerta is widely hated and feared by the public, he was an angry alcoholic and a ruthless fighter. In April of 1913 Venustiano Carranza, governor of Coahuila, begins and runs the fight against Huerta with Pancho Villa. A year later United States forces occupy Veracruz. Soon after Huerta resigns as President and flees to Europe on a German ship. In result of World War I starting in Europe, The United States leaves Veracruz and recognizes Venustiano Carranza, as provisional President of Mexico. In retaliation to The united states siding with his now enemy, Pancho Villa attacks, New Mexico. Eight U.S. soldiers and 10 U.S. civilians were killed in the gruesome attack.
In 1917 Mexico adopts a new constitution, The Constitution of 1917. It contained claiming rights over the subsoil, instituting new regulations to benefit organized labor and decreeing sanctions against the Catholic Church. Carranza presidency was coming to an end in 1920, and he tried to choose his own successor. This quickly backfired, in 1920 Obregón declares himself in revolt against Carranza, whose support collapses. Soon after Carranza is murdered while trying to flee the country on a train that was eventually intercepted and attacked. October 1920 Obregón elected President. The long, bloody revolution is finally over.