People and Identities
Notable Names
Battles and Treaties
Political Institutions
Dates and Events
100
The native American people who dominated northwest Mexico at the time of the Spanish conquest. According to their own legends, they originated from a place called Aztlan, somewhere in north or northwest Mexico. These people, otherwise known as the Aztecs,were fearless warriors and pragmatic builders, and created an empire during the 15th century that was surpassed in size in the Americas only by that of the Incas in Peru.
Who are the Méxica?
100
The ruler of the Aztecs at the time of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico.
Who is Montezuma?
100
The final, decisive battle that led to the downfall of the Aztec civilization and marked the end of the first phase of the Spanish conquest of Mexico.
What is the Battle of Tenochtitlan?
100
This entity in conjunction with the Spanish Crown ruled Mexico during the colonial period. It is often said that although the soldiers conquered Mexico in the battles, it is really this entity who conquered Mexico via its intellectual power whereby the leaders learned indigenous languages and converted the people.
What is the Catholic Church?
100
When this man finally sailed for the coast of Yucatán in this year, he had 11 ships, 508 soldiers, about 100 sailors, and—most important—16 horses. He first landed at Tabasco, where he stayed for a time in order to gain intelligence from the local Indians.
Who is Hernán Cortés in 1519?
200
This ancient civilization occupied the eastern third of Mesoamerica, primarily the Yucatan Peninsula. This civilization excelled at agriculture, pottery, hieroglyph writing, calendar-making and mathematics, and left behind an astonishing amount of impressive architecture and symbolic artwork.
Who are the Maya?
200
A Mexican revolutionary leader from the north who advocated for the poor and wanted agrarian reform. Though he was a killer, a bandit, and a revolutionary leader, many remember him as a folk hero.
Who is Pancho Villa.
200
This act brought an official end to the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the U.S. gained much if not all parts of Colorado, Utah, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona for a price of $15 million.
What is the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo?
200
The political structure by which the Crown functioned in the new world. The appointed leader of this entity served as the political head, the chief of the militia and the official patron of the Catholic Church.
What is a Viceroyalty?
200
He is a Mexican businessman who was President of Mexico from December 1, 2000 to November 30, 2006 under the National Action Party (PAN). He was elected President of Mexico on this date in a historically significant election that made him the first president elected from an opposition party since Francisco I. Madero in 1910 and the first one in 71 years to defeat, with 42 percent of the vote, the then-dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Who is Vicente Fox in 2000.
300
A person of racially mixed ancestry, especially the offspring of a Spanish American and an American Indian.
What is mestizo?
300
A village leader, farmer and horseman who became an important leader in the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). He joined forces with other revolutionary generals to defeat Victoriano Huerta in 1914. He commanded an imposing army, but he rarely sallied forth, preferring to stay on his home turf of Morelos.
Who is Emiliano Zapata?
300
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday which celebrates the victory over French forces on May 5, 1862 at this battle. Cinco de Mayo is often mistakenly thought to be Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16. More of an emotional victory than a military one, to Mexicans this battle represents Mexican resolve and bravery in the face of an overwhelming foe.
What is the Battle of Puebla?
300
Supreme governing body of Spain's colonies in America (1524-1834). Composed of 6-10 councillors appointed by the king, the council prepared and issued all legislation governing the colonies in the king's name, approved all important acts and expenditures by colonial officials, and acted as a court of last resort in civil suits appealed from colonial courts.
What is the Council of the Indies.
300
This man was a Mexican politician and statesman of the late nineteenth century. He was president for five terms in the turbulent years of 1858 to 1872. Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of his life in politics is his background: he was a full-blooded native of Zapotec descent – the only full-blooded native to ever serve as president of Mexico – who did not even speak Spanish until he was in his teens. He was an important and charismatic leader whose influence is still felt today. As Minister of Justice, this leader passed laws limiting church power, and a new constitution was passed on this date, which limited them even further.
Who is Benito Juarez in 1857.
400
A Spanish settler in the New World who was born in Spain?.
What is a peninsular?
400
As President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940 this man is considered one of the most honest and hardworking Presidents in the history of Latin America. He provided strong, clean leadership at a time when his country most needed it. Today he is revered among Mexicans for his zeal in eliminating corruption, and many cities, streets and schools bear his name.
Who is Lázaro Cárdenas.
400
In October 1519, Cortez and his army of Spaniards and Tlaxcalans marched on this area and were received into the city. On the report that the native peoples planned to destroy the Spaniards by treachery, the Spanish army massacred 3,000 citizens and burned the city.
What is the Battle of Cholula?
400
This time period in Mexican history (spanning the years 1884-1911) is named after the president in power. Although characterized by internal stability, modernization, and economic growth, the authoritarian rule of the president combined with much wealth centralizing in a few hands ultimately led to the Mexican Revolution.
What is the Porfiriato?
400
This cries for Spanish reform uttered by this priest in his famous "Cry of Dolores" are associated with the beginning of Mexico's independence movement.
Who is Miguel Hidalgo in 1810.
500
A person of pure Spanish descent born in Spanish America.
What is a criollo?
500
A member of the Austrian Habsberg family he was invited by Napoleon to establish himself as emperor of Mexico in after the French invasion of 1691 in order to solidify French rule in Mexico. He made his residence in Chapultepec Park outside Mexico City, a place where former Aztec emperors used to stay as a retreat site.
Who is Maximilian I
500
The great peasant uprising of 1926-1929 in west central Mexico fighting for the Catholic Church against the revolutionary government.
What is the Cristero Rebellion?
500
A Mexican political party that held power in the country for 71 years, first as the National Revolutionary Party, then as the Party of the Mexican Revolution.
What is the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI)?
500
This man was a firm supporter of democracy and of making government subject to the strict limits of the law, and the success of his movement made him a threat in the eyes of President Díaz. Learning of Díaz's re-election, he fled to the United States in this year. In exile, he issued the ''Plan of San Luis,'' a manifesto which declared that the elections had been a fraud and that he would not recognize Porfirio Díaz as the legitimate President of the Republic.
Who is Francisco Madero in 1910.
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