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Throughout Mexico’s history, there have been small villages in the countryside. For generations, families have lived and worked on the farms that surrounded these villages. The families who worked the land did not own any part of the farms. This meant that they did not make very much money, because they are paid low wages to work for the landowners. In fact, more than 70 percent of Mexico’s population in the 1920s was extremely poor.

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During the Mexican-American War (1846–1848), Mexico lost nearly half its territory to the United States Within two years, the United States had captured Mexico City and won the war. Mexico was forced to sell its northern territories, including Texas and what are now the states of California, Arizona, and New Mexico, to the United States for only $18 million. This was a very low price to pay for the amount of rich land the United States was getting from Mexico. Because of this, the U.S. and Mexico had very bad relations for many years after the war.

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From the years 1876 to 1880 and 1884 to 1911, Mexico was ruled by a dictator named Porfirio Díaz. In 1910, the poor and working-class people of Mexico rebelled against the wealthy landowners and Díaz. This was called the Mexican Revolution. Workers fought for many reasons. They wanted fair pay, equal rights, and to have better opportunities for their families. The Mexican Revolution was a long and deadly war for the Mexican people. But the outcome changed much in their society. For example, the Mexican Constitution was written during this period, in 1917. This constitution outlined the rules that the government must follow. It also gave all people of Mexico rights, regardless of whether they were workers or landowners.