History
Mexican Americans first settled on the shores of a shallow lake Texcoco, which is presently known at Mexico City. Now Mexico was a country that every European country wanted. It was ruled and captured over and over again. In 1521, the explorer from Spain, Hernán Cortés, captured the city, claiming it for Spain. Cortés ended up building Mexico City on the ruins of the Aztec empire.
Skip a few centuries ahead and Mexico is in conflict with the United States over land. The U.S. declares war on Mexico and quickly invades northern Mexico, New Mexico, and California. However, Mexico refuses to admit defeat and fought back. Mexico gets captured by General Winfield Scott on September 14, 1847. In the end a peace treaty, Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, is made and signed on February 2, 1848. The treaty stated that the Rio Grande will become the southern boundary of Texas and that California and New Mexico will belong to the United States. The U.S. also agreed to pay $15 million as compensation for capturing half of Mexico's territory. |
According to History's website, Benito Juarez was president of Mexico during its financial ruin and was in debt to many European governments. Due to their debt, Britain, Spain, and France traveled to Mexico to receive their money back. Britain and Spain came to an agreement with Mexico and traveled back to their countries. However, France, ruled by Napoleon III, stayed and decided to capture Mexico for their own. In the end, Mexico was victorious over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War which was held between 1861 to 1867.
From 1910 to 1915, the Mexican Revolution took place. The end of the movement marked the beginning of social changes, which led to the Mexican Constitution of 1917. According to History, this constitution promised the restoration of lands to native peoples, the separation of church and state, and dramatic economic and educational reforms. |