1953: The Mexican President Adolfo Ruiz Cortines makes a constitutional change that gives women the right to vote. This is a tremendous step, as only since the Mexican Revolution have citizens had the right to elect their leaders.

Today: Everyone has the right to vote in Mexico, although government corruption is such that voting is seen as ineffective.

1947: President Miguel Ameman Valdes, the first Mexican president without a military background since the Revolution, becomes the first Mexican president to visit the U.S. as head of state, in an effort to boost foreign trade.

1994: Mexico, the U.S., and Canada agree to the NAFTA treaty, a joint trade endeavor aimed at meeting the trade needs of all three nations.

1950s: Postwar Mexico experiences the growth of industry and agriculture. The years after World War II reflect a rise in prosperity similar to that seen in...