The Entire History of Mexico

Mexico’s history spans more than 3,000 years, beginning with early human settlements over 13,000 years ago. The region now known as Mesoamerica, which includes central and southern Mexico, became the cradle of advanced civilizations that developed written languages and recorded their political histories and conquests. In the early 16th century, the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire marked the start of New Spain, bringing Spanish rule, Christianity, and European cultural influences.

Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1821 after a long and difficult struggle, highlighted by the Mexican War of Independence. The 19th century was tumultuous, with regional conflicts, the rise of caudillos, the Mexican-American War, and foreign interventions like the French invasion. Reform movements during La Reforma aimed to modernize Mexico by promoting civil liberties and separating church from state, but internal conflicts and external threats persisted, including the establishment of the Second Mexican Empire.

In the late 19th century, the Porfiriato era brought economic growth, but also authoritarian rule and social inequality. These conditions contributed to the outbreak of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, which led to profound social and political transformations. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) emerged as the dominant political force for much of the 20th century. Mexico introduced land reforms, nationalized industries, and expanded social programs, but corruption, violence, and economic instability overshadowed these gains.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Mexico shifted toward privatization and trade liberalization, culminating in the 1994 signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A major political shift occurred in 2000 when the National Action Party (PAN) won the presidency, breaking the PRI’s long-standing dominance. In the 21st century, Mexico has grappled with economic inequality, drug violence, and corruption. The election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2018 marked a new chapter as his administration has focused on addressing corruption, reducing inequality, and tackling the violence that has long plagued the nation.

Posted by @this_is_history

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