80 THE GREEN RISING 



the great Porfirian peace, of Mexico's Augustan 

 Period." The hacendados soon regained their power 

 and at the end of Diaz's thirty-year reign, the dis- 

 tribution of land was more unequal than at any 

 previous time. The administration of Diaz marks 

 the culmination of large land-holding in Mexico. 



Land and Liberty 



The fall of Diaz in 1911 ended an epoch in Mexi- 

 can history. A new era began with the ascendency 

 of Madero, which was characterized by revolution 

 and counter-revolution, most of which were inspired 

 by agrarian inequalities. 



While Madero was not a forceful statesman, he 

 was a man of splendid spirit and fine ideals. He 

 assumed leadership at the psychological moment 

 and with the slogan of "Tierra y Liber tad" he soon 

 acquired national leadership. His program included 

 observance of the constitution, effective suffrage, 

 social justice for the Indian population, and land 

 reform. His overthrow and assassination prevented 

 the realization of these plans. 



The Huerta dictatorship lasted long enough for 

 the agrarian-libertarian revolutionary forces of 

 Mexico to reorganize for effective resistance to the 

 elements of reaction. Governor Carranza of Co- 

 ahuila, assisted by Villa, led the revolt against 

 Huerta. He was supported by the small farming 

 class and the middle-class business man. The char- 

 acter of Carranza was not fuly revealed until he 



