A TIMELINE OF MEXICO
By Tim Lambert
14th Century The ancestors of the Aztecs settle on a marshy island in Mexico
15th Century The Aztecs come to rule a large empire
1519-21 The Spanish conquer the Aztecs and the rest of Mexico
1571 The Spanish Inquisition comes to Mexico
1767 The Jesuits are expelled from Mexico
1810 Mexicans rebel against Spanish rule
1821 Mexico becomes independent
1829 Spain sends an army to re-conquer Mexico but they are defeated
1833 Santa Anna becomes president of Mexico
1836 Texas becomes independent from Mexico
1840 The Yucatan rises in rebellion but is defeated
1846 War begins between the USA and Mexico
1847 A US army occupies Mexico City
1848 Mexico is forced to surrender half her territory to the USA
1857 A new constitution is introduced in Mexico
1858 Civil War begins in Mexico
1863 The French capture Mexico City
1864 Maximilian is made emperor of Mexico
1867 Maximilian is shot
1876 Porfirio Diaz becomes dictator of Mexico
1910 The population of Mexico reaches 15 million. Rebellion begins led by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapota.
1917 The Americans occupy Veracruz
1927 Mexican peasants rise in rebellion
1929 The Revolutionary Party is formed
1938 The oil industry in Mexico is nationalised
1951 Mexico is developing rapidly and the percentage of people living in towns rises to 57%
1982 Mexico is gripped by a severe economic crisis
1990 Literacy is increasing in Mexico and 87% of the population are literate
1994 Mexico joins the North American Trade Agreement