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Maximato Timeline

(1928–1934)

The Maximato was a period in Mexican history from 1928 to 1934 when former president Plutarco Elías Calles exercised decisive political influence despite not holding the presidency. The era included three presidents and ended when Lázaro Cárdenas consolidated power and marginalized Calles. Less

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Political transition

Maximato begins

Dec 1, 1928 - Dec 1, 1934

The Maximato was a transitional period in Mexico’s historical and political development, lasting from 1 December 1928 to 1 December 1934. Plutarco Elías Calles remained the dominant political influence while three presidents held office.

Obregón’s unrealized six-year term begins

Dec 1, 1928 - Dec 1, 1934

The six-year period beginning in December 1928 represented the term President-elect Álvaro Obregón would have served had he not been assassinated immediately after the July 1928 elections.

Image source: Álvaro Obregón

Obregón’s unrealized six-year term begins

Emilio Portes Gil becomes interim president

Dec 1, 1928 - Feb 5, 1930

Emilio Portes Gil became interim president on 1 December 1928, the date on which Obregón’s government was scheduled to begin. His interim administration continued until the constitutional presidency of Pascual Ortiz Rubio began.

Image source: Emilio Portes Gil

Emilio Portes Gil becomes interim president

Ortiz Rubio’s constitutional term begins

Feb 5, 1930 - Sep 1932

Pascual Ortiz Rubio began the constitutional presidential term that followed Emilio Portes Gil’s interim administration. His presidency remained constrained by Calles’s continued exercise of real political power.

Ortiz Rubio is inaugurated

Feb 5, 1930

After a conflict-ridden election and lingering political acrimony, Pascual Ortiz Rubio was inaugurated as constitutional president on 5 February 1930.

Calles’s political involvement declines

1932

Although Calles remained influential during Rodríguez’s term, he became less involved politically because of his own ill health and the illness and subsequent death of his young second wife.

Image source: Plutarco Elías Calles

Calles forces Ortiz Rubio to resign

Sep 1932

In 1932, Calles forced President Ortiz Rubio to step down after Ortiz Rubio appointed several anti-Callists to public functions.

Abelardo L. Rodríguez succeeds Ortiz Rubio

Sep 1932 - Dec 1, 1934

Abelardo L. Rodríguez succeeded Ortiz Rubio and served out the remainder of the presidential term, which ended in 1934.

Cárdenas outmaneuvers Calles politically

1934

Following his election, Lázaro Cárdenas began to challenge Calles’s political control. With strategic allies, Cárdenas outmaneuvered Calles and established the basis for ending the Maximato.

Image source: Lázaro Cárdenas

Cárdenas outmaneuvers Calles politically

Maximato’s presidential succession concludes

Dec 1, 1934

The transitional period known as the Maximato concluded on 1 December 1934, after the succession of Emilio Portes Gil, Pascual Ortiz Rubio, and Abelardo L. Rodríguez and the emergence of Lázaro Cárdenas.

PNR and elections

Pascual Ortiz Rubio wins the 1929 election

1929

Pascual Ortiz Rubio won the controversial 1929 presidential election. He defeated José Vasconcelos of the National Antireelectionist Party and Pedro Rodríguez Triana of the Mexican Communist Party.

Pedro Rodríguez Triana contests the election

1929

Pedro Rodríguez Triana represented the Mexican Communist Party in the 1929 presidential contest against PNR candidate Pascual Ortiz Rubio and National Antireelectionist Party candidate José Vasconcelos.

José Vasconcelos campaigns for president

1929

Philosopher José Vasconcelos contested the 1929 presidential election for the National Antireelectionist Party. His campaign was supported mainly by university students.

1929 presidential election is organized

1929

During the Portes Gil presidency, the PNR organized the 1929 presidential election. The principal contenders were Pascual Ortiz Rubio and José Vasconcelos, with Pedro Rodríguez Triana also participating.

PNR selects Pascual Ortiz Rubio

1929

The PNR selected Pascual Ortiz Rubio as its presidential candidate. He was a political unknown without an independent power base and was favored over Calles’s more established political associates.

PNR established as a political institution

Mar 4, 1929

Calles created the Partido Nacional Revolucionario (PNR), an enduring political institution that held Mexico’s presidency from 1929 until 2000.

Image source: Institutional Revolutionary Party

PNR established as a political institution

PNR selects Lázaro Cárdenas

1934

In 1934, the PNR selected revolutionary general Lázaro Cárdenas of Michoacán as its presidential candidate.

Rebellion and conflict

Cristero peace agreement follows U.S. mediation

1929

Following intervention by United States ambassador Dwight Morrow, the Mexican government and the Cristeros signed a peace treaty, ending the active conflict between them.

Image source: Cristero War

Cristero peace agreement follows U.S. mediation

Calles serves as minister of war

1929

Officially, after 1929, Calles served as minister of war while continuing efforts to suppress the rebellion associated with the Cristero War.

José Gonzalo Escobar leads the rebellion

Mar 3, 1929

General José Gonzalo Escobar led a March 1929 rebellion against the interim Portes Gil government and presented himself as an alternative national leader.

Plan of Hermosillo published

Mar 3, 1929

The Plan of Hermosillo served as the political justification for General José Gonzalo Escobar’s rebellion against the interim government of Emilio Portes Gil.

Escobar Rebellion begins

Mar 3, 1929

The Escobar Rebellion began with publication of the Plan of Hermosillo. The plan accused Calles of responsibility for Obregón’s death, opposed the Portes Gil government, and proclaimed General José Gonzalo Escobar president.

Image source: Escobar Rebellion

Escobar Rebellion begins

Social policy

Land redistribution is halted

1930

The government ceased redistributing lands among poorer peasants during the policy changes that followed the large 1930 demonstration.

Image source: Land reform in Mexico

Land redistribution is halted

Strikes cease to be tolerated

1930

The government adopted a stricter political and labor policy in 1930, declaring that strikes would no longer be tolerated.

Mexican Communist Party is banned

1930

After a large demonstration in 1930, the Mexican Communist Party was banned by the government.

Image source: Mexican Communist Party

Mexican Communist Party is banned

Mexico ends support for César Sandino

1930

In 1930, Mexico ended its support for the rebels led by César Sandino in Nicaragua.

Image source: Augusto César Sandino

Mexico ends support for César Sandino

Rodríguez introduces social legislation

1932 - 1934

During Abelardo L. Rodríguez’s presidency, social legislation promised by the Mexican Constitution of 1917 was introduced for the first time.

Eight-hour working day is introduced

1932 - 1934

The Rodríguez administration introduced the constitutionally promised eight-hour working day as part of its social legislation.

Minimum wage legislation is introduced

1932 - 1934

A minimum wage was introduced during Rodríguez’s presidency as part of the social legislation associated with the Mexican Constitution of 1917.

Narciso Bassols promotes socialist education

1932 - 1934

Rodríguez’s secretary of education, Narciso Bassols, tried to implement a system of socialist education.

Constitution is amended for socialist education

1932 - 1934

The constitution was amended to support the proposed system of socialist education, although provisions intended to suppress religion were later removed from the constitution in 1946.

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Key Facts

  1. The Maximato began after President-elect Álvaro Obregón was assassinated in 1928.
  2. Plutarco Elías Calles became known as the Jefe Máximo, or Supreme Chief, because of his influence over successive governments.
  3. Emilio Portes Gil, Pascual Ortiz Rubio, and Abelardo L. Rodríguez served as presidents during the Maximato.
  4. Calles founded the National Revolutionary Party (PNR) in 1929, helping institutionalize political succession.
  5. Lázaro Cárdenas ended the Maximato in 1934 by asserting presidential authority and later exiling Calles in 1936.

Source

This Maximato timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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