European Conquest

Pre-Columbian civilizations include the Olmec, Teotuhuacan, Mayan, Zapotec, Toltec, Aztec

1519: Conquest of Mexico by Cortes Aztec Emperor Moctezuma Prophecies of Quetzlcoatl La Malinche -- mestizaje

1521-1810 New Spain – included Central America, southwestern North America, the Caribbean, the Phillipines

New Spain 1521-1810

Feudal social system Conservative Roman Catholicism

throughout the Empire Class divisions

Spaniards – in charge of government Criollos (Creoles) – Spanish descent born in

New Spain – major land holders Mestizos – mixed Spanish and Indian descent Indians – peasants, agricultural workers, often

tied to landholdings as serfs had been in Europe

19th Century Mexico 1807: Napoleon invaded Spain 1810: Declaration of Mexican Independence 1810-1821: War of Independence 1821: 1st Empire of Mexico > Republic 1836: Republic of Texas declares independence

1845: Texas is annexed to the United States 1832-1855: Dominance of General Antonio

Lopez de Santa Anna in Mexican government 1846-1848: War with U.S. led to annexation of

territory that became CA, NV, UT, AZ, NM and CO

1855: Santa Anna overthrown

19th Century Mexico 1857: new Constitution that did not mandate

Roman Catholicism as state religion 1857-1861: War of Reform – civil war 1860s: military occupation by France

2nd Mexican Empire: installation of Emperor Maximilian and Empress Carlota – favored limited monarchy

Emperor overthrown and executed by Benito Juarez’s forces

1867: Restoration of Republic 1876-1911: Dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz

20th Century Mexico 1910-1921: Mexican Revolution

Leaders with conflicting aims included Francisco Madero, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Pascual Orozco, Venustiano Carranza – most assassinated during revolution

1917: Mexican Constitution of 1917 1920: Alvaro Obregon elected President – instituted

many reforms in social liberalizalition, curbed the power of the Roman Catholic church, improved education, granted women’s civil rights

1926-1929: Cristero War 1929: Formation of National Mexican Party (PNM) >

Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) – dominant throughout 20th c.