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 practically confined to the well-to-do and was used to safeguard the established order. The teaching of the constitution was forbidden in the schools. Towards the end of the regime, student clubs were organized to support Diaz.

The immediate causes of the revolution were (1st) increasing fear of United States imperialism; (2nd) the rush for oil lands; (3rd) the financial depression of 1907; (4th) Mexican crop failures and decrease in importation of cereals; (5th) bloody suppression of strikes; (6th) political agitation.

The imperialistic outburst of the United States, shown in the Spanish American and Philippine wars, the Rooseveltian Panama policy, and the control of Cuba as provided by the Platt amendment, impressed the Mexican moneyed classes and increased their aversion to United States investors. There was much discussion in the Latin-American press concerning the probable intention of the United States to "Cubanize" all Latin America.

The modern oil industry in Mexico began about 1900. In 1901 a law was promulgated which authorized permits good for one year, giving exclusive right to explore for oil specified lands at five cents per hectare (2.5 acres); ten-year patents for exploitation of oil lands; privilege of importing machinery, needed in the business, free of duty; exemption of all capital invested from federal taxation for ten years; right to buy national lands, needed for installation of plans, at low fixed rates, and other special privileges. In the following years