Revolution is an event that happens when people of a country rise up and force a change in a country's constitution, or even the existing power structure of the nation. Change tends to be swift and by the use of violent means, however, many different methods can be used to bring about change. Usually a general consensus of some sort is reached by the public, and the populace feels forced into action. Sometimes the people feel as though their "backs are against the wall" and they have no choice but to rise up and take control of the government of their country. Mexico's history is one of revolution and also of misguided power. There are a whole range of motivating factors that can be at the root of such a wholesale need for change, but generally oppression of some group is involved.
President Porfirio Diaz was a horrible dictator who kept his feet firmly planted on the backs of Mexico's poor. He somehow managed to stay in power for 31 years and during his reign as president-cum-dictator, he ruled as most dictators do. That is he wielded absolute power over the people, while a small network of sycophants surrounded him, with actual power given only to a select few. the elite hoarded and controlled the wealth of the economy. The people were given no means to express their opinion of Diaz; there were no elections and no choice. Corruption and injustice reigned everywhere.
Diaz and his henchmen, denied the young and idealistic politicians that stepped forward at the beginning of the 20th century, to make policy or to instigate changes. One of the young, would-be reformers was Francisco Madero, who firmly believed that Diaz should renounce his power, as it was apparent that Diaz's proclamations of democracy were nothing more than lip service. Believe it or not, an ''Antireeleccionista'' Party was formed by Madero in response to Diaz's nonsense, and he used the party to spread his ideals in Mexico. He believed that government, should be a law-abiding institution - whether it be Diaz's government or someone else's. This was of course viewed by Diaz as a threat to his power and he saw Madero as guilty of treason. Madero was arrested and imprisoned before the elections of 1910, as Diaz wanted no opposition whatsoever. Madero fled to the US when Diaz was re-elected. While in hiding, he issued a manifesto stating the elections were false and that he would never recognize Diaz as a legitimate leader.
Madero declared himself temporary president until new elections could be held. It was his goal to return all of the property (farms, ranches, etc.), that had been taken illegally from the poor. He also promised voting rights for all, and one-term presidents. Basically, he wanted to give the people everything Diaz had long been denying them. With his ideals firmly in place, Madero called for an uprising and on November 20, 1910 the Mexican revolution began.
Within days, Madero began to collect allies - Pascual Orozco, Toribio Ortega, and perhaps most notably, Francisco "Pancho" Villa. They all joined him in support of the revolution. Villa already had the backing of the northern Mexico residents who had grown tired of oppression at the hands of cattle kings and ranchers; they joined the cause immediately and bolstered the ranks of the revolutionaries. In early 1911, Emiliano Zapata led an uprising of peasants to take back rights regarding land and water and there was armed revolt happening all over the country. Madero's army of revolutionaries, the "Maderista", eventually defeated the army of President Diaz within six months. Diaz subsequently fled into exile in France where he would eventually pass away in 1915. The Diaz regime had finally been toppled, and Mexico held a national election to elect its new president - Francisco Madero.
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