Mexican Revolution via Murals

1750-1914

Teotihuacan

Mexican Revolution via Murals

As early as 1000 BCE Toltecs, Aztecs and Maya adorned temples and public building with murals. Murals told stories of everyday life (Mexican Realism).

Post-Spanish invasion = Christian murals

Mexican Revolution = native Mexican culture again

Mural # 1

Aztecs called
themselves Mexica

Mountains and lake provide natural defense of city

Tenochtitlan Marketplace by Diego Rivera

1345 Aztecs built Tenochtitlan at Lake Texcoco

The city was an important religious center filled with pyramids topped with temples

What raw materials would be used to create mats?

Snake on cloth represents Quetzalcoatlgoddess of creation

Petates, or mats, were woven out of reed

Slave laborer is identified by simple loin cloth Importance of family as mother carries child in rebozo

Moctezuma II 1502

Conquest by Jose Orozco Spanish Conquest

Hernan Cortes 1519

Aztecs surrender 1521

Winged angel shows partnership of Church and Cortes

Cortes is carrying an iron sword resting on dismembered bodies of Aztec victim Aztecs had no metal to match irons strength

Fire in background represents widespread destruction of Spanish soldiers and smallpox. What is this?

Small pox decimated Aztecs

Cortes is a machine symbolic of European technology

European Influence Cross, Spanish flag and sword represent colonization Cuauhtemoc, last Aztec emperor, bowing to conquistadors

Colonial Domination by Diego Rivera

Brutal labor of gold mines

Yoked to plow

Huge land grants given to Spanish encomiendas

Conquistadores use branding iron to brand Indian slave Rivera attempted to summarize 300 years Bag of gold

Describe the European faces

Total Indian population fell from 25 million to 1 million by 1700

Euro faces drawn as animals

Mexican Independence Father Hidalgo (killed 1811) against Spanish rule Color red death and violence Masses of people popularity of independence movement among Indians and mestizos. Hidalgo and Father Morelos both executed during war by Mexican creoles (Spanish decedents) Creole Agustin Iturbide then lead independence from Spain, but without reforms of masses

Fight for Liberty by Jose Orozco

Mexican Independence 1810-1821

Criollos Spanish descent Priests collar and cross role of Church in rebellion

What do you think a fiery machete represent? Machete is symbol of agriculture and fire is revolt.

Juraz 1831-1872 and the Fall of the Empire by Jose Orozco

Mexican flag patriotism of middleclass
Juarez - Zapotec Indian - first to bring legitimate reforms to Mexico

Violent colors

Machetes in hands of peasants Juarez leadership came against European intrusion from Spain and France

Control of Church

1855 overthrew dictator Santa 1862 Mexico conquered by France (Napoleon III). Archduke Maximilian of Austria became Emperor of Anna, began Mexico. Cinco de Mayo = Mexican victory, though French reforms eventually won war. 1867- Juarez conquered Mexico City and executed Maximillian Then continued his reforms until his death in 1872

Repression History and Perspective of Mexico

Repression during rule of Porfirio Diaz (34 year rule) 1876 Diaz came to power dictator for 34 years. Welcomed foreign investors Government forces on horse heavily loaded with weapons

Police enforced Diaz laws

Sickle represents farm workers Note force used to control farmers (land fell into hands of huge hacienda owners).

Revolution against Porfirian (Porfirio Diaz) Dictatorship 1911 unseated Diaz Peasants lost lands and were forced to work on large haciendas for little wage conditions near slavery

Government forces used to coerce the farm hands to work.

Peasants responded by rebelling against government.

The Trench by Jose Orozco

Viva la Revolucion

Mexican Revolution

by 1910, dissatisfaction of Diaz regime lead to open revolt.

Red violent and bloody nature of 10-year long revolution

Three soldiers mirroring the Christian Trinity, add religious element to the movement

Sharp angles of bodies inject drama

The carbines and rifle reinforce the atmosphere of revolution

Most tangible result of revolution was the redistribution of hacienda land to landless

Land Distribution by Diego Rivera

Nation Culture changed as Zapata and Madero became heroes. 1910 2% owned land 1940 33% owned land (President Lazaro Cardenas) Madero became president 1911

1917 Constitution guaranteed lands and factory workers protection

1913 Madero was assassinated

Revolts against the new president, Gernal Huerta
(died in jail of liver failure 1816)

came from caudillos (strongmen) Emiliano Zapata and Pacho Villa (assassinated 1923). 1920 Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) ruled Mexico from 1920 - 2000

Mural by Diego Rivera