Francisco I. Madero and the Lower Classes
The Mexican Revolution, beginning in 1910, was a complex and multifaceted conflict driven by diverse and often conflicting aims. Francisco I. Madero, a middle-class reformist, ignited the revolution to challenge the political injustices under Porfirio Díaz’s dictatorship. However, Madero’s vision significantly diverged from the goals of lower-class participants such as campesinos and laborers. This divergence played a crucial role in shaping the early period of revolution and counterrevolution in Mexico, leading to substantial challenges once Madero assumed the presidency.
After losing the presidential election to Díaz, Madero incited revolution from exile in the United States with his “Plan de San Luis Potosí.” This plan primarily aimed at political reform, advocating for “Effective Suffrage, No Reelection” to ensure free and fair elections and prevent another autocratic regime like Díaz’s. While Madero’s plan paid lip service to social and economic reforms desired by campesinos and nationalists, he was fundamentally committed to political stability and minor system adjustments rather than major overhauls. His goal was to “tinker with the system, not destroy it.”
In stark contrast, lower-class participants like campesinos sought significant changes. The economic policies of Díaz had concentrated land in the hands of a few wealthy landowners, leaving many peasants landless or working on estates owned by others. Campesinos, negatively impacted by these policies, primarily desired land reform and redistribution. Laborers aimed to improve working conditions, secure better wages, and gain the right to organize and strike. They viewed the revolution as an opportunity to achieve social justice and economic equity, with one laborer expressing, “We wanted more than just political change; we wanted a life we could live with dignity.”
When Madero was elected president in 1911, the differing goals of his supporters quickly created significant challenges. His moderate approach and focus on political reform fell short of the radical changes desired by lower-class participants. Madero angered revolutionary leaders like Emiliano Zapata by refusing their demands for swift and meaningful land reform. Zapata’s Plan de Ayala, which called for extensive land redistribution, was a direct response to Madero’s perceived inaction. Zapata famously declared, “Madero has betrayed the revolution,” reflecting the deep disillusionment felt by many.
Madero further alienated his former allies by excluding many supporters from his cabinet, instead filling it with family members and well-connected members of the Díaz regime. When revolutionaries protested, Madero sent Díaz’s army to crush the counter-revolution, further eroding his support.
The early period of the Mexican Revolution highlights the importance of leaders who genuinely embody the revolution’s goals. Madero’s failure to implement the changes most Mexicans desired led to his short-lived presidency and eventual assassination in 1913. His downfall underscores the necessity for revolutionary leaders to embrace significant governmental changes and possess the creativity to envision a new world.
Despite his shortcomings, Madero’s importance in the Mexican Revolution cannot be understated. His insistence on immediate elections marked a shift toward democratic processes, moving Mexico away from the election facades held under Díaz. While he failed to achieve the radical social and economic reforms many desired, he helped inch the country forward toward the original goals of the revolution.
