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The Seeds of Discontent: The Mexican Revolution and the United States:
By the dawn of the twentieth century, 3 per cent of Mexico's population owned 95 per cent of the nation's arable land. In the northern Mexican state of Durango, ten families owned 97 per cent of the grazing and farm lands. This stark imbalance between rich and poor contributed to the new century's first major social revolution, when Mexicans overthrew their long-established dictator in 1911.
Many revolutionaries in northern Mexico rallied around Francisco "Pancho" Villa, a cowboy turned bandit. In southern Mexico, radicals joined the forces of Emiliana Zapata, a horse buyer. Both Villa and Zapata captured the public's imagination through their charismatic and successful leadership. Eventually, they allied, hoping for U.S. recognition.
A host of other regional leaders battled to control the southern republic as well, and American President Woodrow Wilson felt compelled to intervene in Mexican affairs. Already deeply involved with Mexico's economy, American investors controlled more than $1 billion worth of holdings, representing nearly 25 per cent of America's total foreign investment and to bring his own concept of democracy to Mexico. But Mexicans viewed Wilson's activities as meddlesome, particularly after American military forces occupied Vera Cruz in 1914. |