Creating the History of the Mexican Revolution

Paper Summary:

This paper takes a look at Benjamin Thomas' book "La Revolucion: Mexico's Great Revolution as Memory, Myth & History", which contends that the revolution which Mexico celebrates is a deliberate creation, something often going beyond actual events. The paper points out that, according to Thomas, although the story of the revolution is partly based on fact, the nation created its own past through retelling its history. To conclude, the paper praises Thomas' work as a valuable book beause it is not merely on history, but on how history is created.

From the Paper:

"Thomas notes that Carranza was more adept at seizing power than wielding it. He alienated the Zapatistas by murdering their leader. He allowed only limited land redistribution, the key demand of the country's poor. (Thomas 33-34) He claimed to be carrying out Madero's revolution, but Villa and Zapata both denounced him as a traitor to Madero's memory (Thomas 53), and he consolidated power relentlessly in the "War of the Winners" of 1915. (Thomas 26) He successfully created a story of la Revolucion glorifying his own role by drawing on strong support among the intellectual, social, and political elites of Mexico City. (Thomas, 52-54, 57, 60-69) By crushing his rivals, he won the right to create the story of his triumph."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Hart, John Mason. Revolutionary Mexico (Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1987).
• Miller, Robert. Mexico: A History (Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1985).
• Paz, Octavio. The Labyrinth of Solitude. (New York, New York: Grove Press Inc. 1961).
• Thomas, Benjamin. La Revolucion: Mexico's Great Revolution as Memory, Myth & History (Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 2000).

More papers on Creating the History of the Mexican Revolution:

• Persuasive Essay # 135652 : "The Origins of the Texas Revolution"
• Book Review # 42366 : "Labyrinth of Solitude"
• Analytical Essay # 132823 : "La Revolucion" - A Book Review"

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