The Last Caudillo

The Last Caudillo presents a brief biography of the life and times of General Alvaro Obregón, along with new insights into the Mexican Revolution and authoritarian rule in Latin America. Features a succinct biography of the life and times of a fascinating figure in Mexico's revolutionary past Represents the most analytical and up-to-date study of caudillo/military strongman rule Sheds new light on the networks and discourse practices that support rulers such as the Castros in Cuba and Hugo Chávez in Venezuela, and the emergence of modern Mexico Offers new insights into the role of leadership, the nature of revolution, and the complex forces that helped shape modern Mexico

List of Illustrations ix Preface x Acknowledgments xii Introduction 1 1 The Background of the Last Caudillo 11 From Santa Anna to Díaz 13 The Sonoran Background 22 2 An Improvised Leader, 1880–1913 30 Obregón’s Early Years 31 Obregón and the Beginning of the Mexican Revolution 41 Obregón’s First Campaign 47 3 Chaos and Triumph, 1913–1916 57 Obregón and the War Against Huerta 58 Obregón and the Clash Between Carranza and Villa 66 Obregón in the War Between the Factions 72 4 The Path to Power, 1916–1920 85 Obregón’s Emergence as a Political Leader 86 The Cincinnatus of the West (Part One) 94 The Campaign for the Presidency 97 5 The President, 1920–1924 111 The Construction of Obregón’s Political Machine 112 Rebuilding the Nation 118 The Violent Breakup of the Sonoran Alliance 127 6 The Last Caudillo, 1924–1928 138 A Troubled Agribusiness 140 The Cincinnatus of the West (Part Two) 143 The Second Presidential Campaign 152 The Death of the Caudillo 159 7 The Unquiet Grave 164 After the Caudillo 165 An Arm and a Revolution on a Stage 170 A Revolution and a Leader Lose Respect 173 Notes 178 Bibliography 200 Index 210