The Porfiriato

1
The Porfiriato

• The Economic Transformation of Mexico, 1876-1910
• Political Life in the Porfiriato
• Positivism and the Cientificos
• The Downfall of Diaz

2
Economic Transformation of Mexico, 1976-1910

• The Porfiriato An Era of Rapid Growth
• Growth Centered in the Export Sector
• Mining Reaches Colonial Levels by 1870
• The Rise of Export Agriculture--henequen, coffee,
  sugar, cattle
• The Role of Foreign Trade and Capital
• Role of the United States--consumes 75 of
  Mexicos Exports

3
Economic Transformation of Mexico, 1876-1910

• Growth Without Equity
• Railroad Policy
• The Burdens of Foreign Capital
• Land Redistribution and Large Estates
• Export Agriculture and Declining Food Supply in
  an era of Rapid Population Growth
• Widening Gap Between Rich and Poor
• Growth Benefits to Foreigners and Rich Mexicans

4
House of a Wealthy Mexican Family in 1901
5
Henequen Growing in Mexico
6
Political Life in the Porfiriato

• Porfirio Diaz
• Effective Suffrage, no Reelection
• Repression Under Diaz
• No free press or elections
• The Rurales
• The Courts
• Foreign Capital and Immigration
• Educational Reforms

7
Porfirio Diaz in 1910
8
Mexicos Rurales in 1906
9
Positivism and the Cientificos

• The Cientificos and Economic Policy
• Positivism and the Dilemma of Mexican Liberalism
• World View of Cientificos
• Caudillos, Indians, and Backwardness
• Foreign Models and Fears Legacy of the Mexican
  War

10
Positivism and the Cientificos

• Policies of the Cientificos
• Indians and Modernization
• Reliance on Foreign Capital and Foreign Trade vs.
  Need to Control Dependency
• Split personality of Cientificos
• Porfirio Diaz Poor Mexico, so far from God and
  so Close to the United States

11
Frontispiece for English Translation of Justo
Sierras Book, showing Order and Progress
12
The Downfall of Diaz

• The Old Caudillo
• Alliance with Regional Governors
• Fear of U.S.
• Positivism and Economic Growth
• Diaz and the Centenary of Mexicos Independence
• The Creelman Interview and the Fall of Diaz

13
The Revolt at Ciudad Juarez, 1910