The Idea of Heritage Throughout Mexico's History

A central part of Mexican history, especially to the Revolution of 1910, was the Agrarian reform movement. While the idea of land reform and redistribution became more apparent and a larger issue of early 20th century Mexico, the idea behind land reform began before Mexico was even a country. It originated in 15th and 16th century Central America – what would become New Spain then modern-day Mexico – with the communal ownership of land by the Aztecs and other indigenous peoples. Though evidence of communal property ownership by indigenous people decreased, it was expressed in the views of those born in New Spain and those who were born in Spain. The idea of heritage based on land would further develop and be complicated by the Wars for Independence in the early 19th century, through various plans of action and proclamations. Following the Wars of Independence, Mexico lost a huge portion of its territory a result of the Mexican American War. Though the incursion with the U.S. resulted in a reduction of land available in Mexico and its government was primarily on the foreign interference, there was restructuring of land before Porfirio Diaz took power. Diaz would be known for his introduction of major industrialization, but not land reform. His successors would follow his agenda, further increasing the feelings of resentment from those would form the Agrarian movement and instigate the Revolution of 1910. The history behind the feelings of resentment towards those who owned large plots of Mexican land and heritage ownership towards the land itself would form a central ideology of the Agrarian movement.