The Switchman | Historical Context

The Switchman Historical Context

Arreola was born only a year after the end of the Mexican Revolution, which was led by Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa. The Revolution called for the transfer of land to peasant farmers and the right of Mexican citizens to elect their leaders. Hence Arreola was raised during a long period of social reform, which entailed new rights for the Mexican people, and redistribution and organization of resources. The new constitution, which was drafted only a year before his birth, provided for radical reforms, including a labor code that gave workers the right to organize and strike. It also put into effect term limits for the president and placed severe limitations on the Roman Catholic Church, which had previously controlled a great deal of land as well as the school system. During the 1920s and 1930s social and land reform continued, including the restoration of communal lands to Native Americans....
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