20081119 mexico revolution 1

Mexican Revolution Timeline

  • Madero Runs for Office

    Madero Runs for Office
    Madero announces his intention to run for the Presidency in April of 1910. This is the first time that anyone has challenged the rigged reelection of Porfirio Diaz.
  • Madero Arrested

    Diaz orders the arrest of Madero in order to ensure his own reelection. Charges are false.
  • Plan of San Luis Potosi

    Madero issues the Plan of San Luis Potosi, denouncing Diaz as the legitimate President. The Plan was issued from his exile in Texas.
  • Battle at Agua Prieta

    This is the first significant battle between Revolutionary troops under Madero and Federal troops under Diaz.
  • Treaty of Ciudad Juarez

    Ciudad Juarez falls to Orozco and Villa; the Treaty ensures peace and outlines terms of resignation and exile for Diaz.
  • Diaz Resigns

    Diaz Resigns
    Diaz submits his formal resignation. Elections are later held, and Madero wins by a large majority.
  • Madero Takes Office

    Madero takes his oath of office, along with his vice president, Pino Suarez.
  • Plan of Ayala

    Plan of Ayala
    Zapata issues his "Plan de Ayala", demanding major land reforms.
  • Felix Diaz: Arrest and Coup

    Felix Diaz: Arrest and Coup
    Felix Diaz, Porfirio's nephew, attempts a revolt against Madero but is defeated and arrested. While in jail, he conspires with Bernardo Reyes against Madero.
  • La Decena Tragica

    Felix Diaz is released fro prison, and a coup begins. Madero is at the mercy of his staff.
  • Huerta's Betrayal

    Huerta's Betrayal
    Huerta, Madero's commander, sends a battallion to arrest Madero.
  • Madero is Killed

    Madero is Killed
    Madero and VP Pino are shot and killed by government troops, allegedly during an escape attempt.
  • Villa Begins His Campaign

    Villa Begins His Campaign
    Villa and his supporters begin their military campaign for the overthrowing of Huerta. His supporters begin to grow in number.
  • Plan de Guadalupe

    Plan de Guadalupe
    Carranza submits his Plan of Guadalupe, intended to overthrow Huerta in revenge for his murder of Madero.
  • Huerta Assumes Power

    Both houses of the Legislature are dissolved by Huerta during this month, giving him even more power than he had before.
  • Tampico Incident

    Several US Navy sailors are arrested in Tampico. Though they are later released, US President Woodrow Wilson is not prepared to let this go unchallenged.
  • Retaliation at Vera Cruz

    Retaliation at Vera Cruz
    Wilson sends a portion of the US Military to occupy Vera Cruz in response to the Tampico incident. Also, it is around this time that it is discovered that Germany has been in contact with Mexico and has sent arms to Vera Cruz harbor via submarine.
  • Vera Cruz Captured

    The US flag is flown over Vera Cruz, signifying its capture. School systems are established.
  • Huerta Resigns

    Huerta Resigns
    Huerta formally resigns, claiming that internal problems in Mexico are a result of US occupation.
  • Aguascalientes Convention

    A convention is convened at Aguascalientes to discuss the future of Mexico.
  • Gutierrez Nominated

    Gutierrez Nominated
    The Aguascalientes convention nominates General Eulalio Gutierrez as the new President.
  • Carranza Denounced

    Gutierrez declares Carranza to be a rebel, and appoints Pancho Villa to be operational commander of the convention armies.
  • US Troops Withdraw

    By Presidential order, US troops in Vera Cruz withdraw back to the US.
  • Zapata Takes Mexico City

    Zapata Takes Mexico City
    Zapata beats Villa in a race to Mexico City by one week.
  • Meeting of Villa and Zapata

    Meeting of Villa and Zapata
    Zapata and Villa meet for the first and only time in Xochimilco, near Mexico City. They agree on many points, but go their separate ways after they leave.
  • Obregon Defeats Zapata

    Obregon Defeats Zapata
    Obregon drives Zapata's forces from Puebla, and begins his march on Mexico city.
  • Carranza's Agrarian Reform

    Carranza announces his plan to pass land reform laws that will return all land to the people who owned it under the rule of Benito Juarez.
  • Obregon Retakes Mexico City

    Obregon arrives in Mexico City and drives out Gutierrez, claiming his own right to the Presidency. Gutierrez sets up a provisional government in Nuevo Leon.
  • Pershing Begins Hunt For Villa

    Pershing Begins Hunt For Villa
    Wilson orders General John Pershing to enter Mexico in search of Poncho Villa. US modern training and tactics are improved because of this campaign, but it is ultimately met with failure.
  • US Recognizes Carranza

    US Recognizes Carranza
    The United States recognizes President Carranza as the de facto President of Mexico. All others lose their legitimacy.
  • Battle of Trinidad

    The armies of Villa and Obregon meet and do battle at Trinidad.
  • Period: to

    Battle of Aguascalientes

    General Obregon launches an attack on a retreating Villa at Aguascalientes. Obregon manages to infiltrate Villa's fortified position before he runs out of supplies. Villa's troops scatter.
  • Zapatistas Flee Mexico City

    Zapatistas Flee Mexico City
    Zapatistas are forced to abandon Mexico City to Pablo Gonzalez, who later evacuates it as well.
  • Gonzalez Returns

    Pablo Gonzalez reenters Mexico City, this time to stay. The Zapatistas do not return.
  • Pan-American Note

    A message from the US and several Latin American countries, it volunteered said countries to act as mediators to find a peace agreement. Villa and Zapata accepted, but Carranza rejected the offer as "meddling".
  • US Bans Weapon Trade

    The US government officially recognizes the Carranza government, and it therefore bans the sale of arms and ammunition to rebels, such as Villa.
  • Obregon Captures Ciudad Juarez

    Ciudad Juarez falls to Obregon's troops. Constitutionalists control every city in Mexico by December 31st.
  • Villa Raids Colombus

    Colombus, New Mexico is raided by Pancho Villa in retaliation for US recognition of Carranza. Carranza calls for a Constitutional Convention.
  • Pershing Begins Hunt For Villa

    Pershing Begins Hunt For Villa
    Wilson orders General John Pershing to enter Mexico and search for Poncho Villa. Though modern training and tactics were improved as a result, the campaign was ultimately unsuccessful.
  • Carranza Attacks Tlaltizapan

    Carranza attacks and captures a munitions factory at Tlaltizapan, forcing Zapata to retreat. Morelos is captured.
  • Villa's Manifesto

    Villa issues a manifesto calling for widespread resistance to the US presence in Mexico. His ultimate goal is to expel Pershing. He also calls for the expropriation of foreign industry.
  • Pershing Withdraws

    Without ever coming close to capturing Villa, Pershing is forced to withdraw from Mexico.
  • Constitution of 1917

    The Constitution of 1917, drafted by Carranza and Obregon, is ratified. It brings education and land reforms, as well as extending the Presidential term to six years.
  • Carranza Elected

    Carranza wins the Presidential Election. Zapatistas refuse to recognize his claim.
  • Carranza Sworn In

    Carranza is sworn in to office.
  • CROM Created

    CROM Created
    The Regional Confederation of Mexican Labor is formed in conjunction with Obregon. It is designed to balance capital and labor in order to benefit workers.
  • Zapata Killed

    Mexican troops find and kill Zapata near the Hacienda de Chinameca in the south of Mexico.
  • Obregon Revolts

    Obregon begins a revolt against Carranza, who dismissed him from head of armed forces. Obregon offers terms of amnesty to Villa, who accepts the offer.
  • Carranza Killed

    Carranza attempts to flee Mexico City, but he is killed by a bodyguard.
  • Obregon Takes Mexiico City

    After the death of Carranza, Obregon takes Mexico City and asserts his claim to the Presidency.
  • Calles Denounces Villa

    Calles Denounces Villa
    General Plutarco Elias Calles declares that there will be no peace with Villa. Villa flees to the mountains, and Calles sends troops after him.
  • Deal Made With Villa

    Deal Made With Villa
    A force of government troops find Villa at Sabinas and make a deal:
    Villa will lay down arms, retire, and make a pension. His supporters will earn a year's worth of salary. Any of Villa's troops will be able to join the federal army if they so choose.
    Villa and his men accept. The Revolution ends.