Exploring Mexico

SS6H3b

Essential Questions• How do guerilla movements affect the politics

in countries in which they exist?

• How did the Zapatista guerilla movement affect Mexico?

Vocabulary• Hacienda- large wealthy ranches/ plantations

• Zapitista- Mexican political party, follows closely to communism

• NAFTA- North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement, trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico which eliminates trade barriers between the countries.

How do citizens show their displeasure with the government?

How do citizens show their displeasure with the government?

Peaceful Actions Non-Peaceful Actions

Mexican American War• Cause- The northern part of what was “then”

Mexico, after independence, was desert inhabited by the Apache and Comanche tribes. Few people lived there.

• Effect- the Mexican government invited foreigners to live there.

• Eventually, those foreigners outnumbered the Mexicans and wanted independence. Of course, those foreigners were from where?

• The struggle for independence from Spain and the war with the United States is over. But, Mexico struggles with internal war. Few are wealthy but most citizens suffer and seek reform.

• Mexico is weak from these strugglesand is temporarily taken over by

France and the emperor Maximilian.• Maximilian is soon executed. • Benito Juarez returns to power.

• The divide between rich and poor continued.

• 800 families owned 90% of the land in Mexico.

• These large ranches called Haciendas were created by taking the poor farmers land.

Revolution in Mexico

• In the early 1900’s revolution spreads across Mexico for land rights under the leadership of revolutionaries like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata.

• The revolution was successful! The haciendas were broken apart and land was divided among small farmers.

Revolution in Mexico

• Revolution continues in Mexico with the forming of the Revolutionary Party.

• They control Mexico for most of the 20th Century.

• Another party in Mexico is the Zapatistas. Their goal is Marxism and socialism. (Marxism is more commonly known as Communism!)

• Coachbook LS 11

What is Guerrilla Warfare?

• Warfare and combat in which a small group use mobile tactics (ambushes, raids, etc.) to combat a larger and less mobile army.

• The guerrilla army uses ambush (stealth and surprise) and movement in attacking vulnerable targets in enemy territory.

The term “guerilla” comes from “guer” which is the Spanish term for war.

Who?

• Zapatista Army of National Liberation• Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (ELN)

• Natives that were coffee growers• Poor people of the Chiapas

• Named after Emiliano Zapata- supporter of the Mexican Revolution

What?

• Zapatista Army declared war on the Mexican state of Chiapas. – They got the world’s attention by taking over several

Mexican cities and attacking their military posts. • The Mexican government sent soldiers and small battles took

place.• The Zapatista’s uprising failed, but they did get attention from

the world.

When?January 1, 1994

Where?• Chiapas, Mexico– Some of Mexico’s

richest land• Hydroelectric power• Natural Gas• Oil• Coffee

• This makes the Chiapas home to some of the poorest people in Mexico.– Hardest hit are people of Mayan descent.– Most do not speak Spanish– Small farms– Little access to education and healthcare

Why?• They wanted more land.• NAFTA (North America Free Trade Agreement)

– They thought it would increase poverty• Indigenous people (native americans) in the Chiapas felt that

they were being treated like second class citizens• They wanted more political democracy.

– They felt that they were being ignored by the government.• The best land for farming and ranching is controlled by a few

wealthy land owners and they worked with the government to benefit themselves. (Think: Oligarchy)

• They wanted more money to help with poverty.

Outcome• The world agreed with the Zapatistas.• The Mexican government has not done much to help.• They adopted non-violent strategies to get their voice heard.

• Internet• International speaking-educated people in Mexico and around the world

• The indigenous (natives) and peasants of Chiapas have started their own health and education programs.

• The uprising was a reminder of what can happen if people are ignored.

• Today….Mexico is officially known as the Estados Unidos Mexicanos or the United Mexican States

• functions similarly to the United States • They are a Federal Republic with executive,

legislative, and judicial branches.

• Mexico is part of NAFTA which is a trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico which eliminates trade barriers between the countries.

• NAFTA creates the maquiladoras which are factories owned along the border by foreign companies. These factories have provided thousands of jobs in Mexico.

• Mexico also benefits from a booming oil industry and from tourism. In addition, precious metals are a key product.

• Mexico City suffers from serious pollution. Being on the plateau is great for their climate but bad for holding pollution in the “bowl” between the Sierra Madres.

• It is one of their major struggles. Mexico City was designated the most dangerous city in the world by the United Nations in 1992.

• Mexico City is also one of the most economically important cities in Latin America.

Review/ Ticket Out the Door• How do guerilla movements affect the politics

in countries in which they exist?

• How did the Zapatista guerilla movement affect Mexico?