CONFLICT WITH MEXICOChapter 9, Section 4

The Mexican Revolution• Porfirio Diaz – attracted outside investors to

Mexico; President for 30 years– Diaz and his cronies got rich, while the lower class

struggled» Lack of “trickle down economics”

Democracy Comes to Mexico

• Diaz uses force and fraud to defeat opposition– Lower and middle classes rally behind Madero

» Diaz into exile

– Mexico has first democratic elections, Madero wins

» Madero’s plan of democracy went too far for some, not far enough for others.

Enter the United States

• Henry Lane Wilson – US Ambassador– Arranged a meeting of anti-Madero factions for a

coup» Believed Mexico could not defend US investments

– Victoriano Huerta, with support of upper class, captures and jails Madero

» Madero is shot trying to “escape”

– Wilson condemns actions• “government of butchers” – Civil War rages• US sells arms to anti-Huerta factions• “Watchful waiting”

American Intervention

• Four major revolutionary leaders fight Huerta in Civil War– Carranza– Pancho Villa– Zapata– Obregon

» These four armies were not organized in any fashion, Carranza and Villa hated each other

• USS Dolphin and the 21 gun salute

Veracruz• Before Congress could react to Wilson’s

statement (p. 232)…– A German ship with arms for Huerta was on its

way– Marines in Veracruz, prevent the weapons from being

delivered – ABC Powers – Huerta exiled, Carranza takes a seat of power

Carranza in Power

• US recognizes Carranza’s government– Pancho Villa provokes American involvement

» Raid on Columbus, NM» Wanted Dead or Alive

– General John J. Pershing goes after Villa• 10,000 men pushing deeper into Mexico…• Battle at Carrizal and the resentment of Carranza

Calming a Heated Situation

• The idea of war did not sit well in the US– Wilson backs down– Tries to make a deal with Carranza– Wilson pulls out troops

• Carranza overthrown in 1920 by Obregon and killed– Oil…