Mexicans have a long history of fighting for democracy. Throughout the 19th century, they broke free from a king, two emperors, and a general to obtain and maintain a democratic federal republic. Unfortunately, as the century closed, Mexicans ended up where they started the 1800s—under the rule of another strongman, General Porfirio Díaz. However, Mexicans would not endure Díaz’s dictatorship for too long in the 20th century.
This exhibit traces the many revolutions Mexico experienced between 1910 and 1916 to free itself from tyranny. It explores the so-called Porfirian “Peace” Díaz secured through the exploitation of Mexico’s working class; Francisco I. Madero’s revolution and failure to address land and social injustice; General Victoriano Huerta’s coup and conservative dictatorship; the rise and victory of the northern Constitutionalist army against Huerta; and the subsequent infighting between revolutionary leaders that resulted in Venustiano Carranza consolidating a reformist yet authoritarian government.