Blog 2
What were the key reasons for the Constitutionalist victory over the Conventionists?
With the understanding that Civil war had occurred between Constitutionalist, who were Carranza and Obregon, and Conventionists, Villa and Zapata, during the year of 1914–1915. Carranza was the first chief during the Constitutionalists movement and although Obregon has won the major battles for the Constitutionalists, it was Carranza who held the political reins and organized the first postrevolutionary government which had grown to include revolutionaries of diverse social origins and political programs. The Constitutionalists wanted to reestablish the liberal principles of the Constitution of 1857 and was aided by the U.S. in 1914 by occupying two major ports on the Gulf of Mexico, Tampico and Veracruz which cut off Huerta’s arms of supplies and his government sources of customs receipts.
The key reasons for the Constitutionalist victory over the Conventionists was because in 1917, they had the best general in Obregon who had adapted to modern warfare, they had the most resources, controlling customs at the major port of Veracruz that allowed them to purchase arms and munitions, they opposed both Zapata and Villa because of their unwillingness to coordinate their military operations, and lastly, Carranza was deemed flexible to win over both organized labor in 1914 and had just enough rebels in the villages who supported and were in favor of him.
In what ways did factionalism still plague the Constitutionalist coalition during and after the negotiations that resulted in the Constitution of 1917?
Factionalism plagued the Constitutionalist coalition during and after the negotiations that resulted in the Constitution of 1917 by denying companies ownership of subsoil products which could have an impact on future profits and investments. It would also influence petroleum transnationals commanded during wartime creating higher taxes among petroleum. Thus, the country created two factions of the victorious revolutionaries between Villa and Zapata (Conventionalists), who sought more radical, immediate reforms, confiscating large estates in Zapata’s territory, and redistributing the land to the villagers and Carranza and Obregon (Constitutionalists), who resisted land reform. (Wasserman, p.11)
The constitution of 1917 gave the government sweeping powers over the church and outlawed religiously affiliated political parties and religious orders which denied the clergy the right to own property, teach, and vote. Which Zapata and Villa had a cordial relationship with the church, but Carranza presented more hostility towards the church because he believed that the church had conspired against Madero from the very beginning. (Gonzales, p.210)
How was Alvaro Obregon able to successfully consolidate power in the early 1920s?
Alvaro Obregon was able to successfully consolidate power in the early 1920s because he took the task upon him to rebuild a war-torn economy and reinventing the Mexican state. His belief in economic liberalism and modernism allowed his success as a businessman and a revolutionary commander provided him with the experience and confidence to a resolve the solution in the matter. His approach to social and political reconstruction focused more on the pragmatism which led to compromises with Porfirian elites, foreign business interests, ruthless caudillos, and land-hungry peasants rather than on his own ideology. (Gonzales, p. 182) His political alliance with organized labor helped him stabilize the government.
What were the main issues he had to overcome?
The main issue that he had to overcome was with article 27 of the constitution. As he attempted to increase taxes and exercise more control over the industry with opposition from the U.S. and British governments who demanded that Obregon compromise article 27 would transfer subsoil rights to the state and have him pay off the foreign debt. Mexico’s need for financial solvency and normalization of diplomatic relations results in international agreements that would undermine the constitution but stabilize the revolutionary state. (Gonzales, p. 184)
Would you argue that the Revolution had come to a close with his administration? Why or why not?
Despite all the men who gain control as Mexico’s presidency, none compared to the things that occurred under the presidency of Obregon. According to Gonzales, he begins to make changes and take on task that others couldn’t, or they believed that he wouldn’t even accomplish, that they didn’t have any confidence in him, Obregon proved them wrong. He was able to create some stability in Mexico that it brought some peace and stability among the Mexican people and workers who begin to gain favor in him. His administration consolidated the Constitutionals’ ascendancy and established political and ideological guidelines for future administrations. His visions for reconstruction came from his own personal experiences as a businessman and farmer which in a way he was able to place himself in the shoes of the people of Mexico and gain their support and favor to winning the revolution through the management and organization of the troops. He gained political allies and increased the authority of the central government in the countryside. I believe he made more impact as being Mexico’s president than previous presidents.
