Mexico's Crucial Century, 1810-1910: An Introduction

by William H. Beezley, Prof. Colin M. MacLachlan

After Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, it began the work of forging its identity as an independent nation, a process that would endure throughout the crucial nineteenth century. A weakened Mexico faced American territorial ambitions and economic pressure, and the U.S.-Mexican War threatened the fledgling nation’s survival. In 1876 Porfirio Díaz became president of Mexico, bringing political stability to the troubled nation. Although Díaz initiated long-delayed economic development and laid the foundation of modern Mexico, his government was an oligarchy created at the expense of most Mexicans.

 

This accessible account guides the reader through a pivotal time in Mexican history, including such critical episodes as the reign of Santa Anna, the U.S.-Mexican War, and the Porfiriato. Colin M. MacLachlan and William H. Beezley recount how the century between Mexico’s independence and the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution had a lasting impact on the course of the nation’s history.

Genres: History

296 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2010

About the author

William H. Beezley is a professor of history at the University of Arizona. He is the author and editor of dozens of books and articles, most notably Judas at the Jockey Club and Other Episodes of Porfirian Mexico, and he is the editor-in-chief of the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colin MacLachlan and William Beezley's book offers a short overview of Mexico in the 19th and early 20th century. It's one that is stronger on the second half of the period than it is in the first, which is understandable given the previous books both men have written about the Porfirian regime. Mexican politics dominate the book, which is perhaps excusable given their argument for the period being the "crucial century" for Mexico's development but limits its value somewhat. Still, this is a useful book for anyone seeking an introduction to Mexican history in the 19th century, one that incorporates much of the recent scholarship on Mexican history to provide an informative look at how Mexico navigated its first tumultuous century of existence.