The Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution (Revolucion Mexicana) was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Portfirio Diaz and lasted for the better part of a decade until around l920.

Over time the Revolution changed from a revolt against the established order to a multi-sided civil war. This armed conflict is often categorized as the most important sociopolitical event in Mexico and one of the greatest upheavals of the 20th century. After prolonged struggles its representatives produced the Mexican Constitution of 1917. This Revolution is generally considered to have lasted until 1920, although the country continued to have sporadic, but comparatively minor outbreaks of warfare well into the 1920’s.

The Cristero War of 1926-1929 was the most significant relapse into bloodshed.

The Revolution led to the creation of the Partido Nacional Revolucionario (National Revolution Party) in 1929, it was renamed the Partido Revolucionario Instuticional (Institutional Revolutionary Party) (PRI) in 1946. Under a variety of leaders the PRI held power until the general election of 2000.

The actual holiday is November 20th which is a national holiday but on Monday, November 19th all schools, government agencies, consulates and most businesses will be closed.

Guadalajara’s annual Revolution Day parade will take place on the actual day of November 20th, starting at 10:00 am at the Agua Azul Park in downtown Guadalajara, and running up Avenida 16 de Septiembre and Alcalde to La Normal Glorieta.