Week 8: The Mexican Revolution’s Full Picture; Elite and Rural Perspectives

Last week, the reading and our class discussion reviewed the positive outcomes and impressive national expansions throughout Latin America during the golden age of the export boom. The featured document, James Creelman’s interview with dictator Porfirio Diaz, presented a biased view of Diaz as a, “hero of the Americas”, and his unmorally successful modernization of Mexico. Although highly intriguing, I thought that Week 7 and Creelman’s article was shining a light on the export boom that was limiting my ability to see the entire picture. More specifically, I felt that Week 7 was only exploring the modernization of Latin America through an elite perspective.  

Thus, when reviewing this week’s readings, I was happy to see and hear all the other voices during Latin America’s gilded age. Dawson’s recognition of the rural poor and countryside dwellers place in relation to modernization within this chapter supplied me with the full picture I was itching for last week. Particularly in Mexico’s history, I was rattled by the way modernization segregated the rural poor from progress because the economic system changed without their consent or approval. Often left nostalgic for older ways, the countryside dwellers also couldn’t speak their minds about their horrendous situation due to the elite’s acquirement of modernized and westernized weapons from the North. In summary, the rural poor was forced to help the elite attain a system that didn’t benefit themselves. 

Now equipped with the full picture of the export boom, outlined in both Chapter 4 and 5 of Dawson’s text; I found it extremely parodic that Creelman’s biased interview with Diaz that celebrated his ‘successes’ as a leader turned out to be his downfall as the ruler of Mexico. Ironically, Diaz’s announcement of his plan to step down from office was the spark the rural poor needed to start their rebellion. A shift in the elite’s almost-impenetrable structure allowed for Francisco Madero to rally an opposing party. Although Diaz won the next election, due to a rigged vote, this fuelled the flames of the rural poor and equipped Madero with the ideological weapons to start the Mexican Revolution that would carry on for the next decade. 

The fact that a piece of literature with one intention instilled an entire country to believe in something completely different deeply intrigued me this week. It makes me wonder about subjectivity, perspective and opinion, and whether or not we have any control over what we are trying to relay to others.