1920 - 1937 Flashcards
Who became US President in 1920?
W.G. Harding, Republican, right-wing, wanted less government intervention, anti-League of Nations.
Who had membership in the League of Nations and how did this effect the League’s abilities to solve disputes?
1920, Wilson wanted the US to participate in the League of Nations but it was rejected by the Senate, Mexico got membership. League of Nations operated in Europe, Mexico, Cuba, Panama and Brazil. Because the US didn’t have membership it made it difficult for Mexico to take its outstanding legal cases to the League to lodge complaints. League lost power in the 1930s, failed to prevent WW2, replaced with the UN in 1940s.
How did the US react to the continuous attempts by the Mexican military to take over the government?
Attempts by military to take over the government, US worried it could spill over into the US like the first revolution, would choose sides and aid them.
What happened in 1923 and how did it effect Mexican leadership?
Huerta took over, major uprising, US helped Mexican President instead and gave him military equipment, training and sent spies (war department contingency plans, G2 military branch responsible for spying), US tried to stop uprisings, border control/smuggling
What was Article 27 of the 1917 Constitution and how did it effect the US?
Subsoil belongs to the state not above soil landowner, must have license from government to go subsoil, affects foreign businesses, US investment in these companies, enforced retroactively, existing companies need licenses too, US law means landowners own subsoil too.
How did the US react to Article 27?
US served notice to Mexico that they couldn’t apply the law retroactively according to international law - disagreement lasted twenty years. Harding refused to recognise the Mexican President until the issue was resolved, eventually sent a negotiator who helped to work out a compromise.
What was the Buccarelli Agreement?
Companies that made material improvements (e.g built roads, buildings, equipment, oil wells) pre-1917 could continue to operate them without going against the constitution.
How did the 1917 Constitution effect petroleum industries and lead to the creation of PAMEX?
Under the 1917 Constitution workers are allowed to form unions, negotiate, petrol industry had union, went on strike, companies couldn’t pay them more, 1936/7 strikes, constitution said if it couldn’t be resolved there would have to be arbitration, decided in favour of the workers, companies protested and refused to recognise the arbitrator, went to the Mexican Supreme Court, deemed companies actions illegal, companies stood together and refused to comply, President decided to nationalise the companies that refused into PAMEX.
How were religious organisations treated under the new constitution and government?
Religious organisations may not advertise themselves, priests could not wear robes in public, organisations couldn’t own land outside church grounds, no crosses on buildings, couldn’t operate schools (pre-1917 half of Mexicans educated in religious schools).
Why was there conflict between the Mexican government and Catholic Church between 1926-1929?
Took away Church lands and power, anti-Church President enforced previously ignored laws, foreign priests forced to leave, Indian and poorly educated areas very devout, 1926 government sent agents to these areas, forced Churches to comply with these laws, Churches mobilised their supporter against government forces (cristeros), priests/teachers killed, lasted three years.
How did the US react to the cristeros and how was the conflict resolved?
American Catholics got involved and sent arms and money, lobbied US government to intercede, US ambassador 1929 offered himself as a mediator and diffused the situation, new President who did not enforce anti-Catholic laws.
How did the US react to the nationalisation of oil companies in Mexico?
Uproar in Congress, some promoted military action, withdrew US ambassador from Mexico who went to FDR and convinced him that Mexico were right in their reaction, companies violated Mexican law, FDR set up mediation for compensation, diffused conflict, settled within three years.
How did Article 27 effect land reform in Mexico?
Large landholdings mainly made by taking land illegally from poor, established a lad reform agency, decide maximum land holding depending on the area, agency confiscated more land than they should, affected US citizens e.g. William Randolph Hearst who owned land in Mexico.
