Mexico

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languages and retaining much of
their native culture. Inevitably they became the laboring class. Their plight
was the result of the 'encomienda' system, by which Spanish nobles, priests, and
soldiers were granted not only large tracts of land but also jurisdiction over
all Native American residents. A second characteristic of colonial Mexico was
the position and power of the Roman Catholic church. Franciscan, Augustinian,
Dominican, and Jesuit missionaries entered the country with the conquistadores.
The Mexican church became enormously wealthy through gifts and bequests that
could be held in perpetuity. Before 1859, when church holdings were
nationalized, the church owned one-third of all property and land. A third
characteristic was the existence of rigid social classes: the Native Americans,
the mestizos, mixed Spanish and Native American (an increasingly large group
during the colonial era), black slaves which were brought from Africa and the
Caribbean, freed blacks and white ...

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favored the rich owners of large estates, increasing their
properties by assigning them communal lands that belonged to the Native
Americans. When the Native Americans revolted, they were sold into peonage.
Discontent, anger and a spirit of revolt continued to grow throughout Mexico.
Madero was elected president in 1911, but was not forceful enough to end the
political strife. Other rebel leaders, particularly Emiliano Zapata and
Francisco (Pancho) Villa, completely refused to submit to presidential authority.
Victoriano Huerta, head of the Madero army, conspired with the rebel leaders
and in 1913 seized control of Mexico City. New armed revolts under Zapata,
Villa, and ...

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