“At its close in 1940 with the political demise of Cardenismo, had the Mexican Revolution fulfilled the definition of a ‘social revolution or not?”

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nIntroduction

nThe Mexican revolution, which took place from 1910 to 1920, was a social liberation that dramatically changed the dominant class systems and income distribution in the country. The intellectuals and liberals started the revolt against the administration of Porfirio Diaz who was a dictator. It is considered one of the main cultural, social and political revolutions in the twentieth century. It sought to modify the society fabric transforming the class systems. The Mexican Revolution was fuelled by economic and social struggle among the people especially the lower class. Precisely, it is normally referred a social revolution because it was influenced by the need to have agricultural reforms. The social reforms were led by Emiliano Zapata and Francisco Villa who acted as crucial historical and cultural symbols. Lazaro Cardenismo was an army officer during the Mexican Revolution. He became the Mexican president from 1934 to 1940. During his reign, he revamped the agrarian and land reforms which started by the Mexican Revolution. In this regard, more peasants possessed land although they lacked title deeds. The paper will examine whether Cardenismo actualized the social revolution by 1940, which began in the Mexican Revolution.

nThe agricultural reforms were the main force behind the Mexican revolution. The nation was divided into wealthy and poor people. The wealthy landowners flourished while the majority of the population were living in abject poverty. The reason why the gap between the poor and the rich continued to increase is that there was no economic empowerment. The problem was compounded by the economic recession in 1907 as well as famine in 1909. Cardenismo assumed office in 1930s and was determined to introduce agrarian reforms in the country, which were because of social revolution. He is credited of initiating radical policies, which were aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the ordinary people.

nCardenismos presidency paid close attention on the economic and social objectives of the Mexican Revolution. In this regard, his government developed policies on land redistribution among the peasants. In addition, he offered loans to peasants in order improve their economic status. Moreover, he facilitated in the nationalization of foreign-owned firms. With regard to land reforms, he facilitated redistribution of huge tracts of land, which were estimated to be more than 180,000 km2 to Mexican peasants following the passage of the Agrarian Code in 1934. The new Constitution, which was enacted in 1917, established the ejidos (agrarian collectives). Some of the prominent areas of expropriation included the northern Mexico and Yucatan. The northern region commonly referred to as La Laguna was very important in growing cotton.

nHis regime also helped to allocate land in Yucatan, which was beneficial in production of henequen. The land structure initiated the new ejidos. In this regard, peasant agriculture would be the foundation of agrarian modernization, and the desired type of the ejido was the extensive collective system. Therefore, many innovative personal ejidos were initiated as well. The administration also transformed the agrarian laws in order to strengthen redistribution of land to landless workers on haciendas. Certainly, these were labourers had never owned land in the rural villages since all the land was alienated in mid-nineteenth century while some was embezzled by haciendas. Cardenismo also proposed more drastic reforms, which pledged to turn peons into owners of the Mexican rural areas.

nUnder his leadership, more land was allocated to peons as compared to other regimes in the post-Mexican revolutionary combined. Consequently, the agrarian reforms introduced between 1934-1940 created significant number of ejidos, which benefited from crucial irrigation works and agricultural resources. In some regions, the management of agro-industrial amenities were operated through cooperatives. Therefore, his administration established a land sector reform where labourers who were tentatively skilful of producing significant profitable surpluses. They were also supplied with water and land to produce adequate products. Furthermore, his presidency helped to provide the financial resources through state credit, which were needed for investments and purchase, or physical resources. The government helped farmers to take advantage of banking services offered through state banks so that those who had acquired land could borrow funds. Similarly, technical assistance was provided to farmers. By 1940, he had redistributed land, which was 400 per cent more than his predecessors were. For this reason, by the end of his term, nearly half of the nations cultivated regions were occupied by former peasants who were landless.

nIn a bid to create a strong political base on the issues of land redistribution, he structured all recipients in a National Peasant Confederation. The forum was an effort to reinforce the common political system in his new administration. He also ensured that the peasants were politically empowered by joining the ruling party. For instance, the National Peasant League was incorporated into the party with an aim to increase the political power of the peasantry, which could be able to challenge the existing landholding elites. It was also intended to offer crucial voting mass for the New Mexican nation. The new formation also helped the peasants to advocate for their rights especially political interests, rural projects and land tenure. Consequently, the agrarian reform generated uneven impacts. For instance, most of the areas witnessed peasant mobilization during suppression. In addition, many persons did not benefit from agrarian reforms.

nFurthermore, Cardenismo also reorganised the ruling party and gave it a new name the Partido de la Revolucion Mexican (PRM). In the previous regimes, only aspiring politicians and state officers were party members. However, the new organizational structure permitted masses to become members of PRM unconditionally. The members were divided into four groups, which involved the military, popular, peasants and labour. Most of the party members belonged to the labour group while the peasant and popular occupied the second and third positions in terms of present members. Similarly, his term also witnessed decline in the military influence and power in the ruling party.

nSocial reforms in Mexico also required implementation of labour reforms, which was enshrined in the 1917 constitution pursuant to Article 123. Subsequently, the Mexican labourers in industrial places were empowered in a substantial manner whereby they were guaranteed civil rights. For instance, the Cardenismos government assured them of the eight-hour working period every day and the freedom to strike. Before he took over power, previous governments had reduced the powers of the labour unions in the country hence they had little influence and power. For this reason, most of the people in Mexico had defected from their labour unions.

nThrough the Confederation of Mexican Workers, led by Vicente Lambardo Toledano, the president empowered industrial employees in the country. Additionally, the new union was beneficial to the employees as it advocated for their interests. It also helped to organize and mobilize workers who were able to fight and agitated for their rights and interests. The railway system was also nationalized under his government in 1938 where employees were given powers to govern it. The Cardenismo government also played a key part in nationalization of the state oil industry. Both industries were put under the employees leadership especially the trade unions. Largely the moved facilitated the rise of socioeconomic well-being of the nation.

nConclusion

nLazaro Cardenismo was a Mexican president from 1934 to 1940. During his reign, he is credited of actualizing the social reforms in the country, which were initiated during the Mexican Revolution. Prior to this, large tracts of land were owned by the elites and wealth persons while the poor were landless. From 1934, he initiated agrarian reforms, which placed more than 180 000 km2 in the hands of peasants. Moreover, he allowed them to access financial resources from state banks, which assisted them to improve production. He also permitted peasants to join political parties. On the other hand, he empowered the Mexican workers by allowing them to strike and to work for only eight hours a day. Employees were also permitted to join political party as well as run the operations of nationalized industries such as railway and oil companies. Therefore, at its close in 1940, the political demise of Cardenismo had fulfilled the definition of a social revolution in the country because of agrarian reforms and labour reforms.

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