It was difficult to discern the real goals of the rebels when the Mexican Revolution started in 1911. The leader Franciso Madero had urged the ousting of the dictator, President Porfirio Diaz. Antagonism raged between the liberal and conservative factions of the country, as it had for almost a century. Power grabs and exploitation were easily accomplished during this time, and unfortunately those opportunities were certainly taken advantage of
In 1913, an army general named Victoriano Huerta betrayed and overthrew the idealistic President Madero, installing himself in office. His usurping of the presidency vilified him to many Mexicans, and to this day his nickname is still 'El Chacal', or 'The Jackal'. It was no big surprise, because during his short rule, the government became a harsh and nasty, military dictatorship.
During that period, the Mexican armed forces totaled 50,000 persons - too few for Huerta's taste. He set forth to rapidly increase the size of the military by ordering forced conscription; men were literally kidnapped off the streets by his cronies, some even snatched as they came out of church. Most of these new soldiers deserted as soon as they could. The generals were so corrupt that they would sell ammunition to their enemies, but even with these problems, the forces kept the President in power, and even attracted the support of a few former rebels.
While some world leaders - including Germany, who traded with Mexico - recognized Huerta's position in office, others definitely did not. U.S. President Wilson refused to acknowledge Victoriano as rightful leader and demanded his resignation, which was of course refused. Diplomatic relations between the two nations broke down completely during the Tampico Affair of April 1914. What began as a minor incident between the American Navy and the Mexican army eventually escalated into a full occupation of the Veracruz seaport by the United States.
Locally, resistance to Huerta was increasing as well. Politician Venustiano Carranza, from the northern state of Coahuila, organized a rebel army with the help of revolutionaries like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata. They formed the Constitutionalists in response to the assassination of President Madero and called for war against the Federal military. Their fight climaxed at the Battle of Zacatecas, a bloody engagement in June 1914, in which the Constitutional forces decisively defeated the national troops, storming them from all sides and driving back the few men they didn't slaughter.
The victory at Zacatecas was a major blow to Huerta and his supporters, especially when combined with the U.S blockade of the country's largest seaport. With much dissent and infighting on all sides, Victoriano left presidential office July, 15 1914, vacating the presidency to Constitutionalist head Carraza. The Jackal was forced into exile.
Aided by the Germans, Huerta moved to the USA after escaping to live Jamaica for a time. He planned another revolution which would put him back in power; he was supported by Germany, who had war plans in Europe and hoped Victoriano would distract America for a while. However, the U.S arrested Victoriano in 1915 when he tried to cross the border in Texas. He remained imprisoned before dying of cirrhosis in January 1916, having run Mexico for a little over a year but leaving an eternal legacy as one of the most loathsome figures of the Revolution.
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