Between 1910 and 1920 Mexico was shaken by a series of fights and revolts known as the Mexican Revolution that tried to transform the political and social system imposed by Porfirio Diaz during more than 30 years of dictatorship.

The Mexican Revolution contributed to the formation of Contemporary Mexico. It did not have a homogeneous nature. Instead, it was a series of revolts and inner conflicts

Several political and military leaders, who took the Federal Government after Díaz's collapse, were the protagonists. At the beginning, the first revolutionary attempts inspired by Francisco I. Madero, tried to bring Porfirio Díaz down from the Government.

After Madero's triumph, it was necessary to rebuild the country, but this attempt was frustrated by the several disputes among the revolutionary groups.

AFTER MADERO''S MURDER

There were several new fights and the winner was Venustiano Carranza, who promulgated the Constitution in 1917, decisive part on the post-revolutionary government's organization. Nevertheless, some of the most radical sectors of the arm movement kept fighting until the beginning of the 20''s.

MADERO''S REVOLUTION

The Mexican Revolution was born due to the growing unsatisfaction against the elitist and oligarchic politics of Porfirio Diaz, who had governed in favor of the most privileged classes of the country, the landowners and the big industrial capitalists. The country had prosperity, but this did not reach the poorest people, just like today.

Madero, a rich landowner from the North of the country, suggested a formula of political compromise. According to this proposal, Diaz would keep the presidency and Madero the vice-presidency, starting a Reform process. Obviously, Díaz did not accept and Madero stood as candidate for the presidency for the 1910 election. Intellectual people form the Anti-reelection Party, like Filomeno Mata and José Vasconcelos, supported him

Díaz had his opponent arrested and declared himself winner in this fraudulent election in June. Madero managed to escape from prison and published his famous "Plan de San Luis Potosí" in San Antonio, Texas.

1917 CONSTITUTION

At the end of 1916, The revolutionary men got together in Queretaro to reform the 1857 Constitution. They finally decided to write a new one, since the circumstances in Mexico at that time were quite different from those in Juárez's time.

The new Constitution was promulgated on February 5th, 1917, incorporating ideas from all the revolutionary groups. It included freedom and citizens' rights, as well as the democratic and federal ideals. It also recognized the social rights, like strikes and workers' unions, the education right and the nation's right to regulate private property according to the community interests.

THE COUNTRY RECONSTRUCTION

The Constitution was promulgated in 1917, but in some regions of Mexico, the war continued until 1920. When the armed fight finished, a lot of things had changed. The country was in the hands of a new generation of men and women strengthened by the Revolution.

The signs of the destruction were visible in all the economical sectors of the country: the agriculture, mines, factories and commerce, as well as the means of communication; roads, bridges, railroads and telegraph cables were deeply damaged.

PEACE IS ACHIEVED

Order came back little by little. Zapata's and Villa's Armies were defeated, but in some states like Guerrero and Chihuahua, the guerrilla kept fighting against Carranza's Army, even after Zapata was betrayed and murdered in 1919.

When the rebel group triumphed, Adolfo de la Huerta was named Provisional President and he managed to make generals loyal to Zapata and Francisco Villa himself lay down arms. This way, peace was achieved in the country and there was a new presidential election in which Alvaro Obregon won.