0.000000
0.000000
Tags: delicious dishes, Mexican food, Mexico, Mexico recipes, travel
Tag Archives: Mexico
Excerpts from my, “Gringo Guide to a Mexican kitchen”:
10 Dec
Excerpts from my, “Gringo Guide to a Mexican kitchen:
Copyright William J. conaway, 2006
Finding Your Way Around
a Mexican Kitchen
There’s a lot of difference between a Mexican kitchen and your own. There’s no dish washer, no garbage disposal, no trash compacter, no microwave oven, no food processor, no bread maker, the stove’s gas, and everything in it has a different name.
In the back of this book you will find glossaries of foods, spices, cooking utensils, cooking terms, and the rest of the book contains some great Mexican recipes. Remember you’re in a far off land, full of mysteries. We can help you solve some of those secrets, and make life a little more interesting.
One vegetable/seasoning mentioned in many of the recipes on the following pages is epazote, wormseed or Mexican tea. It is a weed that grows even in the southern United States. Get some, plant it, it will regenerate itself.
We don’t suggest you eat like a Mexican at first. Stick to simple food until your stomach becomes accustomed to the altitude, climate, and the totally different atmosphere you find yourself in.
You may have been led to believe that you don’t like hot. spicy food, but the fact is that only a very few really delicious dishes are known outside of the country, and almost no Mexican food contains the burning hot peppers you see described in cartoons in the States.
DESAYUNOS – BREAKFASTS
These recipes would take the place of the more Mexican Almuerzo or brunch. We list only the lighter meals that Americans would prefer.
To start the day put on a fresh pot of beans (presoaked in water overnight) to cook in a clay olla.
Put tomatoes or tomatillos on to parboil (depending on the sauces needed for the day).
Prepare the necessary chilies, garlic, and onions to add to the sauces. And use the beans left over from the day before to make Frijoles Refritos.
Frijoles Refritos
(Refried Beans)
Ingredients:
2 cups precooked beans, any kind
2 tbsp. lard or oil
1 small onion, chopped
Preparation:
Heat oil or lard in a heavy skillet. Add onion and fry until tender. Stir in beans and mash, adding broth as needed. Fry until beans reach desired consistency. Serve sprinkled with grated cheese.
This would also be the time to make the day’s supply of tortillas and salsas:
Salsa de California
4 chilaca chilies (AKA California)
1 lge. tomato, peeled and seeded
6 sprigs of parsley, chopped
1 sm. onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1-2 serrano chilies, chopped
1 pinch sugar
salt to taste
Simmer the chilies in boiling water for five minutes. Drain and remove stems and seeds. In a blender combine the chilies with all the other ingredients and puree.
Add the mixture to a fry pan with 2 tblspn. of oil and simmer for a few minutes. Makes about 1½ cups.
All of my books are available in the San Miguel de Allende Library Gift Shop, the Casa de Papel Card Shop, Garrison & Garrison bookstore, La Deriva bookstore, and for downloads Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Follow the author on Twitter @williamjconaway, and Facebook/williamjconaway. Join and comment with him online at: http://www.williamjconaway.com
The Early Years – Becoming a Writer
7 Dec
The Early Years – Becoming a Writer
Copyright William J. Conaway, 2012
Jaime Morris
Sitting in the jardin early one morning, Jim and I watched a large black man ride an extra large horse past the parroquia, and up Correo Street.
We found out that his name was Jim “Jaime” Morris, and that he had a string of horses that he rented. We talked it over and decided to try it out. Neither of us had ridden much, but we had always wanted to, growing up as we had with the “Lone Ranger,” and all the other western heroes on TV and in the movies.
We found his “ranch” on the hill overlooking the San Juan de Dios church. He told us that he was from Chicago, a retired cop, and yes he would rent us horses and teach us some of the finer points of horseback riding.
During the following days, he taught us how to mount properly and the use of the reins. We learned how to make a horse back up, and by a little more pressure with the reins to make them rear up on their hind legs. Well, I thought that was great stuff, and did it over and over again. ‘Til one day I pulled back a little too hard, and the horse went over backwards! Luckily he landed on his side, and I was not crushed to death underneath him. Needless to say that was the last time I reared a horse.
In our conversations with Jaime, we learned he had come to San Miguel to establish a community of black folks in town, followers of the Bahia Faith. He showed us his hillside he had all staked out into small lots that he was planning to sell to them. We even watched him interview a group that had come to see what he was offering.
( Listed on Wikipedia: The Bahá’í Faith ( /bəˈhaɪ/)[1] is a monotheistic religion founded by Bahá’u’lláh in 19th-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.)
Unfortunately for Jaime the city fathers, along with the Catholic church ganged up on him and he had to drop his plans (or be stoned to death).
We learned to ride pretty well, and didn’t have to pay as Jaime enjoyed being able to speak English with someone once in a while. We helped herd his goats, sheep, and horses down the hill to the creek that flowed there (now a partially open sewer with a hodge podge of venders squatting on top of the covered part).
Years later, my friend Jim used his riding talents as an extra, in Spain, working on a spaghetti western.
Papelandia Publishing Catalog
26 Nov
Papelandia Publishing Catalog
Gringo Guides
A Gringo Guide to Living in San Miguel de Allende – A complete 150 page, perfect bound book a guide, and advice for living and enjoying San Miguel de Allende as a resident or a visitor. A fun filled, Cartoon illustrated day-to-day guide with stories chronicalling the authors «Early Years» in San Miguel. Even long-term residents are guaranteed to find information they never knew before, supplied by a 50+ year Bilingual/Bicultural American resident of San Miguel. GG-101 – $20.00 plus $12.95 International S&H. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com.
…to Mexican History – A 354 page, complete History of Mexico with historic pictures. An easy read to learn the incredible history of the Republic from the Conquest until Today. The places, events, and the characters that played out their roles in one of the bloodiest histories ever recorded. Interspersed throughout are accounts of events taking place in the U.S. and the rest of the world simultaniously to give one a sense of the time. GG-103 – $24.95 plus $19.95 International S&H. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com at a considerable discount.
…to the Mexican Revolution – A 56 page, coffee table style book with the complete, bloody history of the Mexican Revolution 1910-1921, with lots of great historic pictures. GG-105 – $16.95 Plus $6.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…to the Cristero Rebellion – A twenty-eight page book with the complete forgotten history of the Rebellion against the Calles Administration 1926-1930 in which the Pope closed the Mexican churches, and the government waged modern warfare against their own people over religious differences. hundreds of thousands of people died and a half million people migrated to the U.S. GG-106 $14.50 Plus $6.95 Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…to Witchcraft – A 30 page booklet about the practice of witchcraft in Mexico now and in the past. Implements, herbs, and spells used in Mexican witchcraft told by a 50 year resident. GG-108 $7.95 Plus $2.95 International S&P. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount (Includes the following book in the same download)
…to Pulque, Mescal, and Tequila – A 30 Page booklet about these spirits from production to imbibing. The History surrounding the discovery and modern production. GG-109 $7.95 Plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com at a discount. (Includes the previous book in the same download)
…to a Bullfight, a Mexican Rodeo, and a Cock Fight – A twenty eight page book that serves as your personal guide to these Mexican sports events. Describing the tradition, the culture, and the mechanics of the events to promote understanding of them. GG-107 $14.50 Plus $6.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…to a Mexican Kitchen – A full 200 pages of time honored, traditional Mexican Recipes, with food and food preparation glossaries. Hundreds of Full-Color pictures, and it’s spiral bound for the cook’s convenience. The book Includes Party Snacks, Gala Banquets, and Mexican Adult Beverages too. GG-102 – $24.95 plus $18.95 International S&H. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, for a considerable discount.
…to: Salsas y Chilies – A 28 page booklet with everything you should know about chilies, and naming the most popular Mexican variaties. Including how to prepare them. Seventeen delicious recipes for Salsa with full-color pictures. GG-102-A – $7.95 plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
…to: Mexican Beverages – A 28 page booklet to Non-alcoholic, and alcoholic beverages alike. Recipes from teas; coffee; hot chocolate; punches; egg nog; cold thirst quenching, cooling drinks and fruit ades to 27 different, popular, alcoholic ones. GG-102-B – $7.95 Plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
…to Soups and Salads – A 28 page booklet wth 10 delicious recipes for popular Mexican soups and 11 scrumptious Mexican recipes for salads including full-color pictures. GG-102-C – $7.95 Plus $2.95 Internat. Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
…to Mexican Desserts – A 24 page booklet with 20 fabulous recipes for some of the most popular and delicious recipes of Mexican desserts. GG-102-D – $7.95 Plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for $9.99
…to Throwing a Mexican Fiesta – A 24 page booklet with 5 delicious Mexican recipes for appetizers, botanas; 11 great recipes for Mexican dips and spreads; and 8 wonderful, time-saving recipes for Mexican microwaves treats. GG-102-E $7.95 Plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
Walking Tours
Walking Mexico’s Colonial Heartland – A full 123 pages of History – Legends – Step-by-Step Walking Tours of the world famous Spanish Colonial cities of: San Miguel de Allende; Guanajuato; Querétaro; and the history of Mineral de Pozos, the Ghost Town. These are 450 + year old cities protected and preserved in the Spanish Colonial style of the XVII and XVIII centuries. They are living, breathing cities, full of life and culture, but mysteriously silent about their history and legends. With this book you will appreciate fully your visit to them. WT-101 – $10.00 plus $12.95 International S&H. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
Walking Tours of San Miguel de Allende – A 30 page book of the History, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460 year old Spanish Colonial city, a National Monument. The booklet has a four-color, slick cover suitable for saving as a souvenier, and includes lots full-color pictures. WT-102 – $16.50 Plus $6.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
San Miguel’s History – A twenty-four page booklet of the history of San Miguel de Allende from the settlement through the War for Independence with historic pictures. WT-101-A – $7.95 Plus $2.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com.
…of Guanajuato – A 30 page book of the History, Legends, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The legends are authentic, and have been handed down generation after generation.The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-103 – $16.50 Plus $6.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…of Santiago de Querétaro – A 30 page book of the History, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-104 – $14.50 Plus $6.95 Int. Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a big discount.
…of Morelia: The City of Music – A 30 page book of the History, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-105 – $14.50 Plus $6.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble at a discount.
…of Puebla de Los Angeles – A 30 page book of the History, Legends, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The legends are authentic, and have been handed down generation after generation.The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-106 $14.50 Plus $6.95 Int. Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…of Taxco de Alarcon – A 30 page book of the History, Legends, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The legends are authentic, and have been handed down generation after generation.The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-107 – $14.50 Plus $6.95 Intnational Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…of San Luis Potosí – A 30 page book of the History, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The booklet has lots of full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-108 – $14.50 Plus $6.95 Intnational Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…of Zacatecas – A 30 page book of the History, Legends, and Step-by-Step instructions for touring this 460+ year old Spanish Colonial city. The legends are authentic, and have been handed down generation after generation.The booklet has lots of historic and full color pictures, and is suitable for saving as a souvenier. WT-109 – $14.50 Plus $6.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
Driving Adventures:
Day Trips From San Miguel – A 56 page coffee table style guidebook to easy one-day trips with historic and full-color pictures. Visit Acambaro, Guanajuato’s oldest city; Dolores Hidalgo, the Fountain of the Independece movement, La Luz, Guanajuato’s Other Ghost Town; Cerro de San Pedro, San Luis Potosí’s Ghost Town, and Jaral de Berrio, the ruins of an historic Hacienda. DA – 102 – $16.95 Plus $7.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…Hidalgo, and the Ancient city of Teotihuacan – A 56 page coffe table style guidebook with the history of the State, and instructions for driving around the state of Hidalgo with stops in: Huichapan, Alfajayucan, Zimápan, Ixmiquilpan, Tula de Allende, Teotihuacán, Pachuca, Mineral del Chico, Real del Monte, Atotonilco El Grande, Metztitlan, Molongo de Escamilla, Tlahuitepa, Huazalingo, and Huejutla de Reyes. with lots of full-color pictures. DA – 104 – $16.95 Plus $7.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a big discount.
…Mexico’s Colonial Ghost Towns – A 56 page coffee table style guidebook of the history and legends of: Mineral de Pozos, Gto.; Mineral La Luz, Gto.; Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí; Cerro de San Pedro, San Luis Potosí. This book contains lots of historic and full-color pictures of these XVI, XVII, and XVIII century Silver and Gold mining cities. DA – 101 – $16.95 Plus $7.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a big discount.
…Michoacán, Touring the Tarascan Empire – A 56 page coffe table style guidebook with the history, and instructions for driving the state of Michoacán with stops in: Ihuatzio, Tzintzuntzan, Santa Clara del Cobre, Pátzcuaro, Janitzio, Zrahuén, Santiago Tingambato, Uruapan, Paricutín, and Paracho with lots of historic and full-color pictures. DA – 103 – $16.95 Plus $7.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a big discount.
…in Mexico’s Huasteca – A 56 page coffee table guide book with a complete driving tour of the Adventure and Ecotourism Paradise that is the Huasteca area of Mexico. Includes areas in the Mexican states of: Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosí, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz. Includes information on White water Rafting, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Swimming, Spelunking, Hunting, Fishing, Hiking, and Camping. With lots of historic and full-color pictures. DA – 105 – $16.95 Plus $7.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
Adventure and Ecotourism
…in the Copper Canyon – A 38 page coffee table style guide book with the history, accomodations, and tours of the entire Copper Canyon System located in the State of Chihuahua. Lots of full-color pictures and Driving Adventures down into the depths of the Urique and Batopilas Canyons. AE – 105 – $16.50 Plus $7.95 International Shipping & Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Barnes and Noble.com a considerable discount.
…with Mexico’s Glittering Monarchs – A 38 page coffee table style guide book with the Complete story on the migrating Monarch butterflies. Where they are, how to get to them, and how they were found. A Driving Adventure loaded with full-color, full-page pictures. AE – 106 – $16.50 Plus $7.95 Int. S&H. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a big discount.
…in San Miguel de Allende – A 36 page coffee table style guide book with the Complete possibilities for Adventure and Ecotourism sites to visit while you’re in San Miguel de Allende with lots of full-color pictures. Includes Horseback riding, ATV Rentals, Hot Air Baloon rides, Mountain bike tours, hiking tours, touring the Botanical Gardens , and the Cañada de La Virgen pyramid. AE – 107 $16.50 Plus $7.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
…in Edward James’ Surrealistic Garden, Las Pozas, Xilitla – A 28 page coffee table style guidebook of the Surrealist Sculture garden of Edward James with lots of full-color pictures and a map of the complete site. AE – 101 $16.50 Plus $7.95 International Shipping and Handling. Order by email: wjconaway@yahoo.com, or download from Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com for a considerable discount.
All of these books are available in the San Miguel de Allende Library Gift Shop, the Casa de Papel Card Shop, Garrison & Garrison bookstore, La Deriva bookstore, and for downloads Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Follow the author on Twitter @williamjconaway, and Facebook/williamjconaway. Join and comment with him online at: http://www.williamjconaway.com
Mexican Revolution – Download your copy
19 Nov
Colage, Revolución Mexicana
Mexican Revolution
Excerpts from my , “Gringo Guide to the Mexican Revolution,” available for download from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com. Printed copies on sale in San Miguel de Allende at the Biblioteca gift shop, Garrison and Garrison, and La Deriva bookstores.
Emiliano Zapata…
A young Indian by the name of Emiliano Zapata, born in Anenecuilco (Where the Waters Swirl), Morelos in 1877, began a farmers revolt in his home State.
Zapata was a respected member of his village, from a family with a long history of fighting for freedom in the War for Independence, the War of the Reform, and during the French Intervention.
Zapata had his own piece of land and had never been a peon in the hacienda system. But his strong sense of honor had been offended by the system of government in Morelos. He was interested most of all in recovering lands stolen from his neighbors by greedy land barons.
His army of white clad farmers began by storming haciendas, stealing livestock, killing the hired hacienda defenders, and disappearing back into the mountains with their plunder.
These rebellions, mostly livestock thievery to begin with, grew into armed invasions, military in spirit: A new, almost unthinkable word roared through the countryside, “Revolucion!”
These warriors called themselves by their leader’s names, Villistas or Zapatistas. This practice of naming troops for their commanders became widespread.
And…
By the spring of 1911, the uprising had begun to take fire in Sonora, Sinaloa, Durango, Puebla, Guerrero, Veracruz, Tabasco, Oaxaca, and the Yucatán.
Villa and Orozco took Ciudad Juárez, on May 9, 1911. The street-to-street battles were watched by Americans perched comfortably on rooftops, across the river, in El Paso, Texas.
Zapata’s irregular troops took the city of Cuautla, Morelos, and other guerrilla leaders or mobs began taking state capitals throughout the country.
On May 21, 1911, six months after it began, Díaz resigned. A day later he slipped away to Paris, and died there on July 2, 1915.
The defeat of Ciudad Juárez was a coup de grace to the government of General Díaz. With one lone battle won, the capture of a city of such small National importance such as Ciudad Juárez, the Revolution, initiated in November of 1910, had triumphed.
The Revolution was over, or was it?
And then…
But in the freest election ever held in Mexico, Madero and Pino Suárez were elected and on November 6, 1911, Madero was seated in the Presidential Chair. He was, however, no longer the universal and unquestioned apostle he had been. He had turned his back on many of his supporters. His policy of demobilization alienated, and created suspicion in the hearts of many of the combatants.
The working class found the freedom to organize trade unions, which then became centers for socialist propaganda. Madero had lifted the censorship of the newspapers, and they began to attack him viciously. “His program had not been economic but political,” they said. “He has no program.” And his brother, Gustavo, was heard to accuse the press of, “biting the hand that freed them”.
As soon as it became apparent that he had “no program,” his loss of popularity was catastrophic. His high-pitched voice, his nervous mannerisms, his inability to handle delegations tactfully, his shedding of tears during a public performance of Tschaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, his faith in the prophecies made at spiritual seances, his total lack of personal dignity—all this was reported in great detail and began to make him the victim of general ridicule.
“The hope that had stirred the masses with the cries for ‘Land and Liberty’ were misunderstood by the scion of wealthy land barons,” the press reported.
For Madero, his revolution had been for freedom and the restoration of the, 1857 constitution. He was convinced that the country needed a political change, not a social reform. He was not a diplomat, and he governed by feeling rather than cold calculation. The Cabinet he formed was unstable and inefficient, and the Senate, with the same members as under Díaz, opposed him. And the Camera de Duputados, although mostly Maderista, was dominated by venomous oratory against the President.
Find out what happened next by buying my, “Gringo Guide to the Mexican Revolution”….
Americans watching the Battle of Juarez
Mexican Revolution, Sherman marching his troops into Mexico
13 Nov
Sherman, Beginning his chase of Pancho Villa
Mexican Revolution – Introduction
11 Nov
Pancho Villa
Excerpts from my, “Gringo Guide to the Mexican Revolution”.
Mexican Revolution
Copyright William J. Conaway, 1995
If we trace the history of most Revolutions, we shall find that the first inroads upon the laws have been made by the governors, as often as by the governed.
Charles Caleb Colton, 1825
Introduction
THE REIGN OF DIAZ
By the time Mexico had become independent the rest of the world had begun to pass it by. In 1828, the first passenger railroad was begun in the U.S., and 1843, the first telegraph line was strung there, but in Mexico the «El Universal» newspaper proclaimed, in 1850, that the trans-atlantic telephone cable was a fraud.
The world’s first petroleum well was brought in during 1859, but Mexicans would wait nearly 50 more years for theirs.
Díaz had hammered his way to power, and once there he was forced to assume responsibilities he had never really understood. But he was determined to bring Mexico into the new century, the New Era.
An illiterate Mestizo (Spanish and Mixtec Indian), with the manners of a guerrilla chieftain from the mountains of Oaxaca, which he was, Díaz was dominated by a lust for power. When he took command, Mexico’s six decades of political warfare had cost the country its rightful place among the industrialized nations.
And then the over-wash of America’s post-Civil War development burst in upon a Mexico unorganized socially, culturally, economically.
Revolution!
Chapter One
THE REVOLT
The Revolution of 1910 was the only true revolution in Mexican history. The other conflicts included: the War for Independence, the War of the Reform, the War against the United States, the French Intervention, Civil Wars, Military Mutinies, and the Cristero Rebellion. But there was only one Revolution. In the context of Mexican politics it is said to have lasted until 1940, when middle-of-the-road General Manuel Avila Camacho, a «Gentleman President,» took office.
The War for Independence liberated Mexico from Spanish domination, but the previous class system remained in place. The War of the Reform elevated the Mestizo to the ruling class, but did little to help the Indian class. The Revolution was fought to help the landless Indians, but along the way the intent got lost somehow. During the 10 years of the conflict 2 million died in the fighting, from disease, and famine. No one was better off, but they had suffered together, Indian, Mestizo, and Creole, and had come together as a nation.
On November 20, 1910, a small uprising broke out in Puebla. Its leader, Aquiles Serdán, was killed immediately by police. A few other uprisings in Jalisco, Tlaxcala, and the Federal District were easily suppressed. Madero, in despair, went to New Orleans, Louisiana.
Meanwhile, in Chihuahua, which was mostly owned by the Terrazas family and governed by Alberto Terrazas, a sexual deviate scion who seduced his niece, revolutionary fervor grew. The opposition to Díaz was led by Abraham González, who found it easy to recruit the Terrazas’ cattle herders as cavalry. To lead these troops, González enlisted a storekeeper and muleteer, Pascual Orozco, pictured at lef, in southern Chihuahua, along with an old hand at stealing Terrazas livestock, Francisco Villa.
Francisco «Pancho» Villa, was born in 1877 in San Juan del Río, Durango, under the name of Doroteo Arango. He began a career as a fugitive at the age of 16, when he shot a wealthy land baron who had raped his little sister. This made him a criminal in the eyes of the people in power, and he was pursued by the Rurales for years.
Interested? Download your copy today from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com.
Living and Writing in Mexico 