Thanks to his actions orders were given for his arrest but he placed himself in front of a few revolting peasants that shared his ideals and became known for his bravery, cunning and ability. From that moment on Porfirio became one of the leading spirits in the struggle for reform, under the leadership of Juarez in the War of Reform, a conflict between Liberal and Conservative forces that dominated the country’s history in the 19th century. The liberal faction of this civil war wanted a federalist government, limiting the traditional catholic church, and its military power, while the conservative part wanted a centralist government, even a monarchy, with the church and military keeping their traditional roles and powers.
As the liberals came to triumph and Santa Anna was overthrown, Porfirio Diaz was promoted for his efforts. He was made captain in 1856, lieutenant-colonel and colonel in 1859, brigadier-general in 1861 and general of division for the army in 1863. Closely following on civil war, political strife and open rebellion came the French invasion of 1862 also known as the Maximilan Affair. Porfirio Diaz’ daring maneuvers during this foreign intervention earned him the title of hero and popular support. By the end of the two wars and the French retirement, Porfirio Diaz was a remarkable and renown figure throughout all of the Mexican territory. On the very day Juarez was making his triumphal entry into Mexico City after the republican victory, Diaz and Juarez alliance and friendship came into an end as Porfirio sent in his resignation tainted with disappointment. Juarez started a military reorganization, dismissing two thirds of the entire army. As Diaz saw the men who had given great and loyal service to the state dismissed, he retired to his hometown Oaxaca, where he lived disgusted at the course of the events. This incident marked an ending point in his friendly relationships with Juarez. It didn’t took long enough before the energetic Diaz became unhappy with Benito’s administration.
When Porfirio Diaz was given the information that President Juarez and Vice President Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada were running for reelection, he imposed and end to his retirement and breaking completely from his former mentor, he ran against his elder for the office of the president in 1870. Notwithstanding Diaz lost the elections but he claimed that the elections previously carried has been fraudulent and launched the “Plan de la Noria”, supported by a great number of rebellions across the nation, depicting himself as a liberal populist rather than a general attempting to gain control. However, the plan failed and there was nothing he could do about it.
Following Juarez’s natural death on July 9 of that year, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejada assumed the presidency under constitutional record. Nonetheless, he was unpopular among the Mexican culture since it was greatly believed he granted excessive concessions to U.S railway interests and he used constantly the power of the state to enforce his goals. In 1876, Porfirio staged once again a new rebellion and crafted the “Plan of Tuxtepec”, a plan of governance based on the principle of a one-term presidential office with reelection forbidden, pretty ironical knowing Porfirio Diaz’s future and his coming presidential tenure that lasted 35 years with several reelections involved. The plan called for more democracy at municipal level and after initial reverses, the rebels prevailed and Diaz entered the capital on November 21.
The “Porfiriato” officially started in 1877 under the principle of a one term presidential office. Diaz administration maintained control through the manipulation of votes, but also through simple violence and intimidation and assassination of the opposition, which consequently decreased in number. His administration was described by the suppression of civil society and public revolts. The poor and indigenous suffered greatly under Diaz dictatorship, their lands were taken away and they were forced into a debt-slavery system. Furthermore, freedom of speech was not acceptable nor tolerated under the period called the “Porfiriato”. Nevertheless, selected groups such as hacienda owners prospered.
Diaz didn’t run for a second term in 1880 as promised under the “Plan of Tuxtepec” but he handpicked his successor, Manuel Gonzales, a liberal ally and a trustworthy companion, a sneaky strategy which didn’t meant he was stepping down from his powerful control over Mexico. Gonzalez’ four year period under the presidential seat were marked by official incompetence and corruption, situation that was considered beneficial for Porfirio. As he stepped up for reelection in 1884, he was welcomed by his people with great praise. Very few people remembered his ideals of “No reelection” and as consequence, Diaz arised once again into power without any obstacles and almost no opponents on the elections.
This mestizo raised in Oaxaca had the Mexican constitution amended as soon as he returned to power, first to allow two terms in office and then to remove all restrictions on reelection. During Diaz’s administration Mexico was compared economically to economic powers of the time such as France, England and Germany. Economic progress was the main objective of his government; however, it varied greatly from region to region. The northern part of Mexico was defined by ranching and mining and the central valley became the home of several industrial centers and large scale farms for wheat and grain. The concentration of decision making and the control over economic instability was due to Diaz effective centralized government and the economic philosophy he carried, positivism.
This economic ideology was based on the statement of prized economic development no matter what the cost and it provided a rationalization for Diaz and his followers, the “cientificos” who strongly believed that social progress can only be made when economic stability is achieved. Mexico was in urge of foreign investments and Diaz focused in getting it, after all, the previous wars that occurred in this country were scaring away foreign business and the country was demanding the entrance to the modern age. Indeed, under Diaz government, Mexico prospered incredibly to the point where national debt was paid in full.
Notwithstanding, the process was not easy and a law and order program was desperately needed in Mexico to attract foreign investors with a peaceful environment and a climate of confidence. The solution was to create a paramilitary force against peasant revolts by having the most notorious bandits and putting them into the scary “Rurales”, also known as the Rural Police.
After achieving domestic tranquility, astonishing statistics were reached, for instance annual oil production of 10,000 barrels in 1901 rose to 13 million by 1911 and mining of the country's ample resources of gold, silver, copper and other metals was transformed. He also built an efficient transport system of thousands of railroad tracks. The rich prospered while the urban poor toiled for low wages and peasants were reduced almost to slavery in the cause of modernizing agriculture. Diaz maintained power by a mixture of bribery and rigged elections. Opposition was held in check by the police and the army; the regime controlled the courts and censored the press.
However, the social atrocities occurring in tandem with these achievements created an unrest that could not be quenched. The cry of revolution could be heard throughout the country. Populist rebels such as Pancho Villa, Emiliano Zapata and others answered the call. The Mexican Revolution had begun and Porfirio Diaz was forced to flee the country to an exile in France, where he died, leaving behind a modernized Mexico in an unseen humanitarian conflict.
Bibliography:
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Mexonline. (n.d.). Mexonline, The Oldest and Most Trusted Guide to Mexico. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from History of Mexico: http://www.mexonline.com/history-porfiriodiaz.htm
Minster, C. (n.d.). About. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/presidentsofmexico/p/08pordiazbio.htm
Soylent Communications. (n.d.). NNDB. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from Porfirio Diaz: http://www.nndb.com/people/504/000097213/
Tuck, G. (1997, October 1). Mexconnect. Retrieved September 25, 2011, from http://www.mexconnect.com/articles/253-democrat-to-autocrat-the-transformation-of-porfirio-diaz
Ivan Camilo Martin Tirado