In the absence of Don Porfirio: Francisco León de la Barra and the Mexican Revolution

Francisco Le-n de la Barra became president pro-tem of Mexico in 1911 after the fall of Porfirio Diaz as a result of the Treaty of Ciudad Ju\_rez. He played a pivotal role in the early Mexican Revolution. This biography of de la Barra, longtime supporter of Porfirio D'az, shows that he served as the bridge between the traditional forces of D'az and the revolutionaries of Francisco Madero. Despite established historiography, which paints a picture of de la Barra and other Porfirian reactionaries trying to subvert the Revolution, this book demonstrates that de la Barra and the Porfirians endorsed many of the same ideas as Madero and his civilian colleagues, including a belief in democracy and progressive social reform. These themes became the legacy of the Madero years, but properly could be ascribed to an entire generation of political and intellectual leaders rather than to a single individual. This book, the product of extensive archival research, concludes that de la Barra, the forgotten man, had a major hand in bringing progressive reforms to Mexico that have been overshadowed because of the simultaneous popular uprising that demanded much greater changes in land tenure and working conditions. In the Absence of Don Porfirio reveals that the de la Barra government laid the foundation for many of the ideas that would become the critical issues of the post-1920s Mexican state. The Product Of Extensive Archival Research, This Volume Concludes That De La Barra, The Forgotten Man, Had A Major Hand In Bringing Progressive Reforms To Mexico That Have Been Overshadowed Because Of The Simultaneous Popular Uprising That Demanded Much Greater Changes In Land Tenure And Working Conditions. In The Absence Of Don Porfirio: Francisco Leon De La Barra And The Mexican Revolution Reveals That The De La Barra Government Laid The Foundation For Many Of The Ideas That Would Become The Critical Issues Of The Post-1920s Mexican State. The Book Analyzes De La Barra's Role As A Member Of The Progressive Group Of Porfirians Who Saw A Chance For Mexico To Live Up To The Reputation As A Modern Nation That Diaz Had Promoted. De La Barra Directed The Election Process And Responded To The Widespread Interest - Even In Rural Areas And Among Popular Classes - In Democracy.--jacket. Scholar And Diplomat -- Revolution By Negotiation: The Treaty Of Ciudad Juarez -- The Quest For Order -- Sowing The Seeds Of Democracy -- Social Change In Mexico In 1911 -- The Aftermath Of The Presidency -- The Treaty Of Ciudad Juarez, May 21, 1911 -- De La Barra's Inaugural Address, May 25, 1911 -- List Of Governors, 1910-1911 -- The Vice Presidential Election, October 1, 1911 -- De La Barra's Farewell Address, November 4, 1911. Peter V.n. Henderson. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 307-325) And Index. "The product of extensive archival research, this volume concludes that de la Barra, the forgotten man, had a major hand in bringing "progressive reforms" to Mexico that have been overshadowed because of the simultaneous popular uprising that demanded much greater changes in land tenure and working conditions. In the Absence of Don Porfirio: Francisco Leon de la Barra and the Mexican Revolution reveals that the de la Barra government laid the foundation for many of the ideas that would become the critical issues of the post-1920s Mexican state.". "The book analyzes de la Barra's role as a member of the progressive group of Porfirians who saw a chance for Mexico to live up to the reputation as a modern nation that Diaz had promoted. De la Barra directed the election process and responded to the widespread interest - even in rural areas and among popular classes - in democracy."--BOOK JACKET. A biography of de la Barra who became President pro-temp of Mexico in 1911 after the fall of Porfirio Diaz as a result of the Treaty of Ciudad Ju rez.