Mexico in 1908 From a Business Consultant's Perspective
What was it like to take a business trip to Mexico City in 1908? Culturally, and politically, it would certainly be eye-opening for an American filing reports from Mexico during that time period, since the U.S. democracy was very solid, the Industrial Age was well into its launch and workers were beginning to make decent money. A variety of sports, recreational activities, making money and raising families were the big topics for discussion with neighbors over the back fences of America.
Meantime, what a business consultant would see, in terms of the social and popular climate in Mexico City, was quite different. As for the general social climate, which of course has an effect on business, the Mexican people were deeply steeped in the Spanish-inspired bullfighting rituals. Mexicans were also in love with the American game of baseball, horseracing was a growing attraction, and boxing exhibitions were becoming popular too was a horse of a different color. Roller skating was popular (on wooden rollers). So many people were roller skating that in 1907, the police put a stop to roller skating on sidewalks.
But beyond recreation and fun activities in the years leading up to and through 1908, Mexico was in the grip of the regime of Porfirio Diaz had been in power since 1876 and seemed like he would never go away. During his tenure, "tremendous economic changes had been...
And say that investments are a great idea. Basically, research shows that Diaz in effect sold out a lot of property and business interests to foreigners - and, the "hacienda system of extensive landholdings dominated..." regions around and within the Mexico City area, according to Stearns.
The hacienda system, prior to the revolution of 1910, "made up a high percentage of Mexico's agricultural land, and their collective power was enormous" (Street-Porter, 1989). Hacienda were launched in the 16th Century, and by the period around 1908, "the haciendas were not due to a need for, or even interest in, increased production but were usually motivated by the prestige that went with land ownership," according to Street-Porter's research. Only about 10% of the hacienda land was every cultivated, which shows one that Diaz just kept old systems in place, and allowed foreign investors in, to profit personally, and prop up his political supporters.
In his book, A History of Mexico (quoted by Street-Porter), Henry Bamford Parks'…
