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Student Question

What is Enlightenment and how did it influence the Mexican Revolution?

Quick answer:

The Enlightenment emphasized rational thought and scientific experimentation over religious dogma, influencing both Mexican independence and the 1910 Mexican Revolution. In the 1910 Revolution, Enlightenment ideas manifested in the revolutionaries' efforts to diminish the Catholic Church's power in education and politics, aligning with Enlightenment critiques of religious authority. During the earlier independence movement, Enlightenment ideals inspired leaders like Miguel Hidalgo to challenge monarchical hierarchies, although later leaders did not fully embrace egalitarian principles.

Expert Answers

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The Enlightenment was the time when European thinkers started to emphasize rational thought and scientific experiment over obedience to religious dogma.

I'm not sure which Mexican Revolution you're talking about here, though.  Are you talking about the one that brought independence to the country (and is closer in time to the Enlightenment) or are you talking about the one in the 1910s, which is more usually referred to as the Mexican Revolution?

I'm going to assume that you're talking about the 1910 one and you can come back with another question if you're not.

The connection between the Enlightenment and the Revolution can be seen mostly in the attitude of the Revolutionaries towards the Catholic Church.  The Church had held a great deal of power in Mexico (over education, especially, but also economically) and the Revolutionaries felt that this prevented people from becoming fully modern in the sense that Enlightenment thinkers understood the idea.

After the Revolution, priests and other religious were not allowed to wear clerical garments in public.  The Church was not allowed to participate in politics or public education.

So, Enlightenment thinkers believe that religious dogma is harmful and you can see how the Mexican revolutionaries put that sort of idea into effect.

If you're talking about the earlier rebellion 1810s and '20s, you can connect it to the Enlightenment in some ways.  Part of Enlightenment thought emphasized the fundamental equality of all people -- it was opposed to monarchy and hierarchy.  The first rebels (Miguel Hidalgo and Jose Morelos) were motivated by the desire to undo the hierarchical, monarchical system under which Mexico was ruled.  After they failed, though, the rebellion succeeded under the leadership of people who were not all that interested in treating everyone fairly.

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