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Apr 24, 1519
Hernan Cortes Captured Montezuma II and Claimed the Aztec Empire for Spain Three Years Later
When Hernan Cortes conquered the Aztec he hoped to win new land for Spain and get gold for himself. Montezuma II welcomed Cortes thinking he was a god. However Montezuma II was captured and with the help of some of his people who wished to be free, Cortes took control of the capital city and later killed Montezuma II. The Spanish had a huge advantage with their cannons, horses, steel swords, and guns, as the Aztec only had clubs, spears, and arrows. This is the begining of Spanish rule. -
Period: Apr 24, 1519 to
Mexico Is Ruled by Spanish and Many Natives Are Enslaved
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Father Miguel Hidalgo Led an Attack Against the Spanish
Father Miguel Hidalgo led over thousands of men, mostly farmers to Mexico City to revolt against the Spanish. The group was soon defeated and Hidalgo killed, but it was the begining of the fight for Mexico’s independence from Spain. -
Mexico Is Free From Spanish Rule
After eleven years the Mexican War of Independance was finnaly over and Mexico was now an independent country! -
Texas Gains Independance From Mexico
Settlers in Texas wanted to brake away from Mexico, so after another big dispute, they became the Republic of Texas. This is important because Mexico lost a tremendous amount of their land. -
The Mexican War Begins
The Republic of Texas wanted to become a part the United States. America agreed but they and Mexico could not decide on a boundary between Texas (Now part of America) and Mexico. The dispute turned into war and a few years later the United States forced Mexico to sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo which gave the United States more land. This war was important because Mexico was weakened by the war and again, Mexico lost more land. -
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The War of Reform
This war was really just a struggle to bring Mexico out from it's poverty and wars. Benito Juarez was a important leader in this struggle. This was important because even though it brought Mexico to an even weaker state than they where already in, Mexico would eventually eventually be "reformed" and without this war it never would have happened. -
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French Control Mexico
The French, knowing how weak Mexico was after the War of Reform, marched into Mexico City and gained control of the country. Maximilian, a European, they gave the honor of emperor of Mexico. However in 1867, Mexico over through him and the French left. It is important that the Mexicans where able to over-thrugh the French, otherwise Mexico could have lost its independance again. -
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The Mexican Revolution
Mexico again fought for reform and specifically rights of farmers, most farmers in Mexico at that time did not own their own land, in fact about two thirds of the people could say this true, that they had no land to call their own. This is another important strugle for reform in Mexico. -
Farmland Is Divided Among All Farmers
After years of dispute, begining in 1858 with the War of Reform, farmers finally where given their own land which ended in overjoyed and proud farmers. This was important because it was such a happy time for Mexicans. -
Vicente Fox Elected President
Vicente Fox was a sign to many Mexicans of new political possibilities. It wasn’t that the government from 1940 to 2000 was “bad” but Fox was the first president in many years who was not a from the PRI (Rartido Revolucionario Institutional) party, but the PAN (Partido Accion Nacional).
