A Different View of Mexico

Presenter: Carroll Williams

My goal is to introduce you to

a different world view held by our

neighbors to the south.

Every culture possesses social memory:

1.Long term historical memory - a nation’s recorded and shared

heritage

2. Short term cultural memory based

upon a person’s life experiences

Some ComparisonsWhen Columbus opened up the Western Hemisphere to Europe in 1492:

What is now the USA held about 600,000 native people scattered in small villages.

Mexico and Central America held about 25 million people and had a number of very large cities with imposing architecture and advanced engineering features.

Mexico today has a culture that grew from a much larger indigenous population than was the case in the USA.

Mexico has a culture that is much older than the USA Olmec culture in Veracruz dates from around 2000 BC

Mayan culture in Yucatan dates from around 2000 BC Zapotec culture in Oaxaca dates from around 500 BC Toltec culture in Hidalgo dates from around 800 AD Aztec culture in Central Mexico dates from around 1300 AD

Aztecs migrated from Aztlan southward

Aztecs lived among the Toltecs and learned from them

Olmec stone head approximately 2500 years old - Veracruz

Mayan culture began in Mexico at approximately the same time the Minoan culture began on the Island of Crete. This Mayan

palace is certainly equal to or superior to the palace at Cnossus on Crete, both of which date from the bronze age.

Mayan architecture is some of the finest in the ancient world.

One of my students from Arapahoe Community College in Colorado. This photo was taken around 1972 during an

expedition to ancient sites in the state of Oaxaca. This is at Mitla which along with Yagul

and Monte Albanin Oaxaca were built by the Zapotec culture around 2,500

years ago.

Carroll Williams atTula in the state of

Hidalgo.

These giant stone warriors once held up the roof of a temple.

The Toltec built this place

In the 9th century AD

Teotihuacan was possibly the largest city on earth in its prime with an estimated population of over 125,000. It was occupied between 100 BC and 250 AD, but was deserted well before the Spanish arrived in 1519. Why it was abandoned remains a mystery.

Mexico’s long term historical memory begins with its Indian roots and continues with its

European chapter

The Spanish Conquest-Discovery of the New World by Christopher Columbus 1492 -Line of Demarcation 1492 by Pope Alexander VI -Treaty of Tordesillas 1494 between Portugal and Spain

Hernan Cortes’ Conquest of Mexico in 1522 was accomplished using many Indian allies.

CuauhtémocCuitlahauc

Moctezuma IIHernan CortesIndecisive Heroes of Indian ResistanceIncredibly Bold

Mexican Independence 1810 – 1821Father Miguel Hidalgo and the church at

Dolores

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla

called for Independence

the night of Sept. 15/16th

1810 with “El Grito”

The Church at Doloreswhere Father Hidalgo summoned

his parishioners around midnight.

Texas buffer zone 1828 - 1836 Anglo Americans were required to integrate fully as

MexicansAntonio López de Santa Anna, President of Mexico

Texas War for Independence 1836 over the issue of Federalism vs. Centralism

Antonio López de Santa Anna

known as the Hero of Tampico

for expelling the Spanish in 1829.

In Texas history he is

known as“The butcher of the

Alamo.”

As a captive of the Texas rebels

Santa Anna traveled to Washington.

While on the journey he dined with

General Winfield Scott in a tavern

In Maryland. The two would

later meet In battle during the War with Mexico

1846 – 1848.

War with the USA 1846 – 1848started with a border dispute - Nueces River vs. Rio Grande

In the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo 1848Mexico lost 53% of its territory to the U.S.

1855 Santa Anna was exiled

1857 A New Liberal Constitution adopted for Mexico

1857 – 1861 The War of the Reformled by Benito Pablo Juárez

1862 - 1867 Maximillian von Hapsburgwas sent by Napoleon III to rule Mexico

1862 – 1867 Benito Pablo Juárez carried out a war of national liberation

against Maximillian and his Frenchsupporters.

Juarez' birthday celebration in Alameda

Park in Mexico Cityin 1972, on the

centennialof his death.

President Benito Pablo Juárez

a Zapotec Indian

1806 – 1872

1876 - 1911 Porfirio Diaz ruled as a virtual dictator

Rapid growth with foreign investmentsin mining and transportation but

stagnation and poverty for the common people

1910 to 1921 Mexican Revolutionled to conflict with the United States

A New Constitution in 1917

1914 Tampico Incident and the invasion of Veracruz

by the USA – ordered by President Woodrow Wilson

U.S. Navy Battleship Arkansas took part in the invasion of

Veracruz.

American Sailors manned machine guns in the streets. Many Mexicans were killed in the seizure of Veracruz.

American invasion fleet at Veracruz

Anti-American riots broke out in Mexico

Mexican Revolutionaries exiled in the USA

Propaganda and gun running in support of the Revolution

1916 Pancho Villa burned Columbus NM. President Wilson ordered the

invasion of Mexico by the US Army. The invasion force was commanded by

General John J. Pershing shown on the right

during a meeting under a flag of truce.

With my friend Mrs. Luz Corral

Villathe widow of

Francisco “Pancho” Villaat her home in

Chihuahua, Mexico 1972

The Zimmerman Telegram, January 1917

German Foreign Secretary Arthur Zimmerman sent a proposal to the German Ambassador in Mexico inviting

Mexico to make war on the United States.

The message was intercepted by the British who made it public.

Would Mexico have joined with Germany in a war against the U.S.?

Anti-American resentment in Mexico was very high.

Germany carried out

unrestricted submarine

warfare against Britain

In 1917 and feared the U.S

would enter World War I.

1938 Nationalization of the Oil Industry by Pres. Lázaro Cárdenas

over a labor dispute. Pemex was formed, and oil sold to

Italy, Germany, and Japan in the early stages of WW II.

1943 Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho and U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt settled

the oil dispute. The oil industry was compensated by Mexico and oil was once again sold to the U.S. and its WW II Allies.

Japan threatened to invade Mexico in WW II

Mexico sided with the U.S. against Japan in WW II.

The Mexican Air Force Aztec Eagles flew fighter plane missions in support of U.S.

troops in the Philippines.

U.S. welcomed Mexican farm workers during WWII

Border Industries Program encouragedby USA during the 1960’s and 70’s

Mexico was very protective before NAFTA

- Mexico is an integral part of North American economy - autos - transport - oil

- Mexico is the third largest trading partner of the USA and a net importer

- Massive currency transfers to Mexico from workers in USA and drug traffic

- Mexico Population 112 million - Mexico has 47 million employed- 42% of the total population are working with 5.6% unemployment rate

- US Population 312 million - USA has 140 million employed- 44% of the total population are working with 8.3% unemployment

- Mexico has a GDP of over 1 Trillion Dollars with growth rate of 5.5%

- USA has a GDP of 14 Trillion Dollars with a growth rate of 1.7 %

National Autonomous University of Mexico or UNAM was founded in 1551: 56 years before the first English Colony in North America 85 years before the founding of Harvard in 1636

Mexico had a full century of colonial growth and development before the first Englishman got off the boat on our shores.

Mexico’s Art, Science, Literature, and Music are all on a par with Europe and USA

Most Mexican States have outstanding Universities, Colleges, and Tech Schools

National Polytechnic Institute has over 150,000 students on all campuses

Mexicans remember the Treaty of 1848

and the loss of over half of theircountry to the U.S.A.

They also remember that the U.S.A.

invaded Mexico three times.

Many Mexicans feel they have a moral rightto come to the USA to work.

About a third of the USA is former Mexican territory.

There are an estimated 10 to 20 million undocumented

people in the USA mostly from Latin Americaand most of these are from Mexico.

How we deal with the issue of undocumentedimmigration is yet to be decided.

The U.S. is today for all practical purposesa bi-lingual country.

Palace of Fine Arts to the left, and Tower of the Americas

in downtown Mexico City.

Alondra de la Parra talks about her music and her album “My Mexican Soul.”

UNAM - The National Autonomous University of Mexico with a view of

Volcanoes Iztaccihuatl (the sleeping lady - left) and Popocatepetl (right)

The Annual Mariachi Festival at the Degollado Theaterin Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico 2011

For more information visit:conwaypages.com

click on

“Commentary and Essays”

and follow the link to “The Mexican World View”

or click on

“Travel and Adventure”and follow the link to

“Adventures in Mexico”

End - Fin