Nationalism and Institutionalizing the Revolution & Mexican Economic Policy Essay Part 1. As you read the following chapters and video, file. Talk about wh

Nationalism and Institutionalizing the Revolution & Mexican Economic Policy Essay Part 1. As you read the following chapters and video, file. Talk about what you think. You must ask one question about this readings on this discussion (1 page only)

Instructions:

1. Required Readings:

Chapter 7

Politics: Mexicanerías—La Construcción del México Típico

Chapter 8 Introduction

Politics: Cárdenas Expropriates the Foreign Oil Industry

Read the document (I will send you)

Contreras, “Economic Policy in Mexico” (continued: pgs. 6-8)
Calles, “Mexico Must Become a Nation of Institutions and Laws”
Fuentes, “The Formation of a Single-Party State”
Anguiano, “Cárdenas and the Masses”

2. View Required Videos:

“Jorge Negrete, Yo Soy Mexicano” (video is in Spanish, but the visual imagery is revealing on its own, even if you don’t understand the words)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVinVgCrhQY (Links to an external site.)
“El mejor presidente de México: Lázaro Cárdenas” (video is in Spanish, but note the visual imagery celebrating Cardenas’ presidency even if you can’t understand the words)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DeplmQyMiYo (Links to an external site.)

3. Complete Nationalism and Institutionalizing the Revolution Reading Quiz

question 1

In “Mexico Must Become a Nation of Institutions and Laws”, Calles asserts that

a. A united revolutionary alliance or family is the only way to maintain the unity necessary to prevent conservative forces and power hungry dictators from reasserting power and destroying the progress that the revolution has made

b. The military must give its honor and fidelity to Mexico’s institutions above all else

c. Obregón’s death has provided an opportunity for Mexico to become a nation of institutions and laws, not a nation ruled by one individual

d. In order to respect democratic rule, Presidents should serve as long as they continue to have the support of the majority of citizens

question 2

In “The Formation of a Single-Party System”, Carlos Fuentes

a. Fears that the name and image of the revolution might be used disingenuously by some leaders

b. Seems to agree with all the arguments that Calles makes in “Mexico Must Become a National of Institutions and Laws”

c. Describes the institutionalizing of the revolution as a benevolent and well-intentioned means of safe-guarding the revolution, its ideals, and democracy

d. Views the single (revolutionary) party system as an ideal way to keep revolutionary leaders in power

question 3

In “Politics: Cárdenas Expropriates the Foreign Oil Industry”, Cárdenas

a. Defines “progress” as just compensation for labor, hygienic conditions, conservation of vast riches of natural resources from destruction, and Mexicans having free management of their own destinies

b. Justifies the Expropriation Act by stating that it is the first step towards beginning negotiations with oil companies

c. Argues that the oil industry has brought additional capital for the development and progress of Mexico

d. Concedes that the oil industry has provided Mexicans with good wages and access to quality medical care

e. Asserts that oil companies have helped the government fight against rebel factions, even when doing so was not necessarily in the oil companies best economic interests

question 4

In “Cárdenas and the Masses”, Anguiano asserts that

a. Cárdenas attempted to resolve the divide between Mexico’s socio-economic classes by conjoining the rural peasants and rural workers under his government

b. Cárdenas created a divide between Mexico’s socio-economic classes when he became Presiden

c. Cárdenas guided the masses along institutional channels, controlling them and regulating their struggle as a means of keeping workers subordinate to—and controlled by—the state, through the official revolutionary party and to the benefit of capitalists

d. Cárdenas attempted to resolve the divide between Mexico’s socio-economic classes by destroying the landed estates to mechanize and make rural production more capitalist

question 5

According to “Mexicanerías—La Construcción de México Típico”

a. After the revolution—from 1920—the Mexican government became more open to global influences and promoted European culture and art over Mexican culture and art

b. The cultural policies of the Mexican government attracted many foreign artists and intellectuals who were interested in what was happening in Mexico in the decades after the revolution

c. A cultural shift occurred during the revolution that reconceptualized the Porfiriato’s elitist and narrow conception of “the [Mexican] people”

d. Most Mexicans in the early 20th century had a longtime, traditional affection for mariachi music and sones

Part 2. Reply those 2 question. (6-7 sentences)

1. As we learned in the lecture, President Cárdenas was the zenith of revolutionary presidents. In the readings, we were able to read more about Cárdenas’ radical work. In “Cárdenas Expropriates the Foreign Oil Industry,” he achieved the feat of nationalizing the oil industry while accusing them for their abuse of “special privileges” and their lack of “social contributions” (159). This was extremely popular with his revolutionary base, however, he faced much opposition from oil companies and conservatives. However, at the same time, Cárdenas was not immune to criticism from the left. In “Cárdenas and the Masses,” Anguiano argues that Cárdenas actually brought Mexico into an “era of capitalist relations (1). In addition, Anguiano accuses Cárdenas of using the state to control and subordinate the masses. After reading these two documents, how would you characterize Cárdenas’ presidency? Do you think he is more of a constructive radical, an authoritarian populist, or somewhere in between?

2. In “Cárdenas and the Masses”, Arturo Anguiano thoroughly criticized the leadership of Cárdenas. He pointed out how Cárdenas was still able to control the people of Mexico simply by approaching the matter in a different way. He brings to light the problems that still existed under Cárdenas’s administration, government control of labor unions, the continuation of poverty only impacting certain groups, etc. Considering Cárdenas’s reputation for helping those in need, how was Anguiano’s work received? Cárdenas was already unpopular with conservatives, but how did the marginalized people he had helped react to Anguiano’s work?