The Mexican Revolution was a violent political and social upheaval that occurred in Mexico in the early 20th century. The revolution began in November 1910 as an effort to overthrow the 30-year dictatorship of Porfirio diaz. It grew into a widespread rebellion that would eventually change the structure of Mexico's economy, government, and society. Various revolutionary leaders and factions pursued different goals during and immediately after the revolution. Moderate and conservative leaders sought primarily political reform, including free and fair elections. More radical leaders sought far reaching social reforms, including the redistribution of land to poor farmers, limits on the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, and labor reforms that would give workers the right to organize and to strike.
The fundamental goals of the revolution were incorporated in the 1917 constitution, although widespread factional fighting continued until 1920 and it took almost another two decades for many of the reforms contained in the constitution to be acted upon. And at the end of the 20th century, the goals of the revolution, particularly the need for an accountable, democratic government and the right of all Mexicans to enjoy a basic standard of living, continue to influence the nation.
During the revolution, different leaders pursued different objectives. For example the leaders Francisco Indalécio Madero and Venustiano Carranza both were later presidents of Mexico, and sought primarily political reform. The two most famous rebel leaders were Francisco "Pancho- Villa and Emiliano Zapata; who supported the growing demands from the lower classes for major social and economic reforms. Zapata, in particular, championed the demands of poor farmers for land to cultivate. Others sought curbs on the social control and political influence exercised by the Catholic Church.
People such as these revolutionaries; particularly Zapata and Villa, sought to reverse the effects that the Spanish colonization had on the Mexican people.
