Milian

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

who had become Emperor of Mexico under French support, was executed in the same year, and Juarez returned to practically absolute power. On the death of Juarez in 1872, the chief justice, Lerdo de Tejada, assumed the presidency, in which, after a revolution, he was succeeded in 1876 by Gen. Porfirio Diaz, one of the ablest of Mexican soldiers and administrators, who was re-elected in 1884, 1888, 1892, 1896, 1900, and 1904. Diaz remained president and practically dictator of Mexico until 1910. Dissatisfaction with his rule, however, had been steadily accumulating, and, when plans were made by his supporters in 1910 to re-elect him for another term of six years, opposition became pronounced. This was headed by Francisco I. Madero, a wealthy landowner of liberal ideas. He became a candidate against Diaz, but was arrested by the government on the eve of the election and was thus eliminated. Diaz was re-elected for his eighth term in July 26, 1910. His rule, however, was brief. Madero, on his release from prison, began an active propaganda and in November headed an outbreak at Chihuahua. The movement spread rapidly, and Diaz realized that his career as ruler of Mexico was over. Following a number of successes Madero entered the City of Mexico on June 7, 1911. Diaz in the meantime had signed a treaty providing for his resignation. Madero was chosen president and inaugurated on Nov. 6. His rule, however, was shortlived. Revolutions broke out in various parts of the country. The most serious of these was headed by Felix Diaz, a nephew of the former president. On Feb. 19, 1913, following 1913, following a sharp struggle in the City of Mexico, having been deserted by his military commander, Victoriano Huerta, Madero was arrested and forced to resign. Four days later he was killed while being transferred from one prison to another. Huerta then became provisional president. No sooner had he taken office, when a counterrevolution, headed by Venustiano Carranza, governor of Coahuila, broke out. The revolt spread rapidly and Huerta's position was made more difficult by the fact that the United States Government refused to recognize him as president on account of charges that he had been responsible for the death of Madero. Huerta was elected president in October, 1916. President Wilson protested against the election and demanded the elimination of Huerta on the condition of resuming friendly relations with Mexico. His demand was ignored nored and Huerta's election was declared valid. The revolution of Carranza continued to spread. Francisco Villa assisted Carranza and captured Juarez and other large cities. At the beginning of 1914, the Constitutionalists, a name adopted by the Carranza party, held nearly all the north ern States. The chief military leaders were Villa, Alvaro Obregon, and Pablo Gonzales. Their military successes continued. The situation of Huerta was made still more dangerous by the socalled Tampico incident. American marines at Tampico were arrested while landing from a launch flying the American flag. President Wilson demanded an apology which was refused. This resulted in the sending of American war ships to Vera Cruz, followed by a bombardment of the city, which was captured on April 21, 1914. War was averted only by the action of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, who offered their services as mediators. Delegates met at Niagara Falls on May 20 and remained in session until June 24. A provisional arrangement was drawn up, but this provided no practical solution for the difficulties. Huerta resigned the presidency in the face of continued successes of the revolutionists, on July 15. After a brief interval, Carranza became provisional supreme ruler. Villa now turned upon Carranza, whom he denounced as a traitor and in the course of months Villa became the chief power in the country. Carranza had resigned and Villa was in virtual control. Various persons acted as nominal heads of the government, although Villa was the chief power. The Constitutionalist forces under General Obregon, however, were able to successfully oppose him and a decisive defeat was administered to Villa's army at Celaya, in April, 1915. Within a short time Villa had lost control of all except the extreme northern districts of Mexico. By the end of the year Carranza was again in supreme power and was recognized by the United States as head of the government. On March 9, 1916, Villa, without warning, raided the town of Columbus in New Mexico, killing 18 persons, some of whom were United States soldiers who were guarding the border. President Wilson at once organized a pursuit expedition under General Pershing, which proceeded over the border in spite of the protests of Carranza who demanded that the American troops be removed. The search for Villa was futile. In May and June occurred other raids upon American towns and the situation became so threatening that President Wilson called out practically all the State Militia for service on the Mexican border. Several clashes followed between American and Mexican troops. At Carrizal, on June 21, 1916, 12 American soldiers were killed and 24 wounded. Carranza expressed a desire for peace and asked for a conference. To this the President consented, and a commission consisting of three consisting Mexicans and three Americans met in New London, Conn., on Sept. 6, 1916, and worked out a program which assured the withdrawal of the American forces from Mexico. There now seemed promise of a period of peace. The Constitutional Convention met in February, 1917, to draft a new constitution. This contained many new and radical provisions and made especially stringent laws against the rights of foreigners in the country. The constitution was adopted in 1917, when Carranza was elected president. The internal affairs of the country remained in a continually troubled condition. Various revolutions broke out and at no time during Carranza's rule was there complete peace. At the outbreak of the World War Mexico was the field of strong pro- German propaganda. (See WORLD WAR.) Villa, who had been little heard of since the raid on Columbus in 1917, began raiding the border anew in 1919. Many American citizens were killed by adherents of Villa and by those of Carranza as well. On Aug. 14, 1919, the American Government informed Mexico that immediate steps must be taken to protect American citizens. In the same month two American aviators had become lost while flying over Mexican territory and were seized and held for a ransom of $50,000. The men were released on the payment of the ransom. Another complication resulted from the seizure of William O. Jenkins. Consular Agent at Pueblo, by bandits, who asked a ransom of $150,000. The American Government demanded his release, but Mexico refused to take action. The ransom was finally paid. Late in 1919 a rebellion broke out headed by Gen. Felipe Angeles. General Angeles was captured and after court-martial was shot. Carranza's position became ever more difficult. His former military leaders, Obregon and Gonzales, became candidates against him for the presidency in 1920. A revolution instigated by Obregon broke out in Sonora in April, 1920. This rapidly spread over the entire country until Carranza was obliged to flee from the capital, accompanied by a considerable military force. While attempting to reach Vera Cruz, this force was attacked and defeated by the revolutionists. Carranza fled with a small body of men, and while asleep in a small cabin at Tlaxcaltongo, was murdered on May 21, 1920. A few days later the troops of Obregon and Gonzales entered the City of Mexico in triumph. Obregon was now the most conspicuous candidate for the presidency and Gonzales professed his intention to withdraw. Both issued statements expressing their intention to strive to bring about friendly relations between Mexico and the United States. Adolfo de la Huerta was chosen provisional president in May, 1920. Villa threatened to become a disturbing factor on being refused what he considered proper recognition by the new government, but after conducting a short campaign consented, on the payment of a large sum of money and a grant of land, to refrain from any further military operations. General Obregon was elected president on Sept. 5, for six years, beginning Dec. 1, 1920. MEXICO, a city and capital of the republic of Mexico, situated within the State of Mexico in the Federal District (463 square miles), about 7,400 feet above sea-level, near several lakes, and at about an equal distance from Vera Cruz on the Mexican Gulf, and Acapulco on the Pacific; is laid out with great regularity; principal public buildings the cathedral, one of the most sumptuous in America, about 500 feet in length, and 420 feet in width, forming one of the sides of the central square; palace of government; college of mines, a noble building, but now somewhat dilapidated; mint, with a front of 360 feet by by 250 in depth; town house, has university, etc.; numerous convents, hospitals, churches, theaters, etc.; manufactures of comparatively limited extent, and trade mostly in the hands of foreigners. Mexico has a mild climate, and a pure and healthy atmosphere. It is on the site of the ancient city of Tenochtitlan, which was destroyed on the capture of Mexico by the Spaniards in 1521. The city suffered severely in the disturbances dating from the end of the Diaz régime, especially in the fighting between the forces of Felix Diaz and President Madero in 1913. See MEXICO. Pop. about 475,000. MEXICO, county - seat of Audrain co., he Mo., 50 miles N. E. of Jefferson City, genre on a tributary of the Salt river, Wabash chief and other railroads Seat of Hardin a College for Women.. Commercial center of large stock-raising district. Has flour, carriage, cigar factories. Governed by mayor and council. Pop. (1910) 5,939; (1920) 6,013. MEXICO, GULF OF, a basin of the Atlantic Ocean, closed in by the United States on the N., by Mexico on the W. and S., and its outlet on the E. narrowed by the jutting peninsulas of Yucatan and Florida, which approach within 500 miles of each other; length from S. W. to N. E. over 1,100 miles; area (est.) 716,200 square miles. Over a fourth of this area the ocean lies at a depth of between 1,000 and 2,000 fathoms, while 58,000 square miles is deeper still. The shores are very shallow, less than 100 fathoms deep over 400,000 square miles, etc. In the middle of the E. outlet is planted the island of Cuba, dividing the strait into two-the Strait of Florida and that of Yucatan, the former connecting the gulf with the Atlantic Ocean, the the latter with the Caribbean Sea. Of the numerous bays, the largest is the Bay of Campeachy (Campeche). The coasts are mostly low and sandy or marshy, and are lined with numerous lagoons; the best of the few good harbors are those of New Orleans, Pensacola, Mobile, Tampa, Vera Cruz, Tampico, and Havana. The gulf is visited from September to March by violent N. E. gales called nortes. There are very few islands. The principal rivers it receives are the Mississippi and the Rio Grande del Norte. The GULF STREAM (q. v.) enters the Gulf of Mexico by the Strait of Yucatan, passes around it, and emerges through the Strait of Florida.