Page:Margaret Shipman - Mexico's Struggle Towards Democracy (1927).pdf/25

 Prior to the revolution there had been practically no public schools. Between 1867 and 1876, schools were established in all villages and hamlets, and attendance was made compulsory. In 1874 there were over 8,000 primary schools of which 5,800 were supported by public money. There were 105 higher schools and colleges, with an attendance of 14,809 students. The attendance of the primary schools of 360,000. With the advent of Diaz, primary schools, especially in rural communities, disappeared.

The revolution was successful in greatly reducing the power of the church and in substituting for decadent mediaeval feudalism, a new capitalisticly controlled economic system, but it failed to establish a permanent constitutional government and to develop a large class of small property owners. The basic reason for this measure of success was that the corrupt feudalism of Mexico had exhausted itself and could no longer stand against the new economic system which was dominant in the world. Immediate factors, working for success, were the victory of the capitalistic element in the United States civil war, contemporaneous events in Europe, the sincerity and wisdom of Mexican leaders and the hardihood of the masses.

The basic reasons for failure to establish permanent constitutional government and a thriving middle class were (1st) the backwardness of the Mexicans in government, industry and education, and (2nd) the power of international capitalism.