The French and Mexican Revolutions

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What is a revolution? By definition it means the overthrow of a government by those who are governed. That is exactly what the French and the Mexican revolutions were all about. The living conditions and overall treatment of the poor, pheasants, lower class, last man on the totem pole or what ever you want to call them, was a large factor in the coming of these revolutions. "Those who are governed" are exactly what the lower class people were. Also, liberty was one of the people's major concerns. They were ruled by men whose only desire was power and greed which is what led them into revolt.

The treatment of the "majority", which was the lower class, had a significant role in each of these revolutions. The French revolution was considered, "the great revolution of the eighteenth century" (McKay, 705) and is a perfect example of how the "majority" was treated. Out of twenty-five million people, 100,000 were the clergy, 400,000 were noblemen (McKay, 705) and the "majority" of the population was known as the third estate. These people were forced to starve while Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette lived in the lap of luxury. For an example, the price of a loaf of bread was so high, that only the rich could afford it.

The French revolution set the stage for Mexican independence. In Mexico president Porfirio Diaz had ruled for thirty-one years. "Power was concentrated in the hands of a select few... wealth was likewise concentrated in the hands of the few, and injustice was everywhere." (Consul General) Just like the French the Mexican "majority" was also treated poorly. The Mexican social classes were distinctly separated into the duenos (owners) and the peones (serfs) plus a small middle class of merchants and professionals. ...

... middle of paper ...

... idea, freedom from dictator ship. Ultimately they both would win but we must ask at what price?

Americana, Encyclopedia Vol. 18 pp.769

Consul General, "The Mexican Revolution" November 1996 Austin Texas IV, Number 25, http://www.mexconnect.com/MEX/austin/revolution.html)

McKay, "A History of World Societies" Vol. C 2004

Robinson, Fay. "Mexican Independence" 1997-2004 http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/mexicanrev.htm

Tuck, Jim. "THE DARK SHADOW OF VICTORIANO HUERTA" 1999 http://www.mexconnect.com/mex_/history/jtuck/jtvhuerta.html)

Watson, J.D., "The Revolution in Brief" http://www.jdwjme.com/mexrev/

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