c. 1910–1920 / Americas

The Mexican Revolution and the Constitution of 1917

A revolution against long-standing rule became intertwined with struggles over land, labor, and state power, with the Constitution of 1917 marking an important stage in institutional reconstruction.

Emiliano Zapata during the Mexican Revolution
Historical recordA 1911 Bain News Service photograph of Emiliano Zapata, held by the Library of Congress. It shows a revolutionary leader rather than the drafting or signing of the 1917 Constitution.Bain News Service · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain Image credit & source

The story

In 1910, Madero called for opposition to Díaz's long rule. The revolution was not a single transfer of power accomplished by a united camp: Madero, Zapata, Villa, Carranza, and others differed in their objectives and forces, and coups and civil wars repeatedly occurred. The constitution promulgated in Querétaro on February 5, 1917, incorporated issues such as land, state rights over resources, and labor protections into new institutional arrangements. This entry uses the common approximate period of 1910–1920; 1917 marks the constitution-making milestone, rather than the end of all armed conflict or social reform. Mexico City represents political changes across the country on the map.

Elsewhere in the world

Russia and China also experienced revolutions and state reconstruction during this period, but their social structures, revolutionary demands, and institutional outcomes cannot simply be equated.

Dates and precision

c. 1910–1920 Approximate period

The dates describe a process over time; the interactive timeline uses its starting point.

Representative map location

Representative coordinates · 19.4326°, -99.1332°

Coordinates locate a representative point for the story. They do not mean the event happened only here and do not represent historical borders.

Bibliography

  • Library of Congress | The Mexican Revolution and the United States: Timeline
  • Supreme Court of Justice of Mexico | Constitution of 1917

Sources are listed as bibliography titles, without external links. A reference does not mean every sentence or interpretation has been independently verified.

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