Day 2, Museo Nacional de la Revelucíon

¿Cambío al pais la Revolución mexicana? Did the Revolution change Mexico? The Mexico Revolution, indeed, brought political and social change to the country. The history of the Mexican Revolution fills an entire museum, Museo Nacional de la Revolución en Ciudad Mexíco, and numerous college courses can be taught on the people and politics involved. If only approaching the topic from a small lens, such feats as fighting for equality and the role of such marginalized groups as women in securing change should be addressed; these elements further illustrate the passion of Mexico rooted within its history.

Many sources available online will state that the Mexican Revolution did not begin until Profirio Díaz' call to arms on November 20, 1910; however, the Mexican Revolution is rooted in the preceeding century. In 1810, insurgency against Spain erupted, with priest Miguel Hidalgo leading creoles (those born in Mexico) to rise up against the peninsulares (those born in Spain who moved to Mexico) after resentment to class differences built up until the dam of social acceptance busted. Class tensions, political disagreements, and political instability are all woven throughout the 19th and 20th centuries in Mexico.

Though conflicting political agendas and ideologies stirred conflict, the people of Mexico, the rural farmers, the workers, the women, are what fueled the Mexican Revolution. According to Elena Poniatowska, author of Soldaderas: Women of the Mexican Revolution, "Without the soldaderas, there is no Mexican Revolution - they kept it alive and fertile, like the earth." Elizabeth Salas, author of Soldaderas in the Mexican Military, would agree. Salas explores the roots of the Mexican Revolution soldadera to the Mexíca in which women would fight in battle. Both authors argue that women did not simply follow men during the Mexican Revolution to care for them (which did happen), but also would take up arms themselves. For greater information on the women soldiers in the history of Mexico, please see Poniatowska and/or Salas. (Salas is a great read!)

So much else can be said about the Mexican Revolution, but to sum up, it did bring change. Yet, one thing has remained the same among the people of Mexico: passion.

Additional links to consult on the Mexican Revolution:

era.anthropolgy.ac.uk/Era/Peasants/mexican-revolution.html

http://www.mrm.mx

Attached photo, taken May 23, 2017 at the Museo Nacional de la Revolución, illustrates soldaderas.