Study guide

Mexican history, on one timeline

Every dated event in our bank of 550+ reported exam questions, placed in order — so you can finally see when the Olmecs, the Maya and the Aztecs actually were, and which dates sit next to the trap the exam sets for them.

Open “Asked on the exam” on any card to see the real questions, in the wording candidates reported. Use the chips to filter by topic.

3,500 years, to true scale

By length, pre-Hispanic Mexico is almost the whole story — everything from the conquest to today fits in the sliver on the right. Each section below gets its own readable scale.

85 events, from the question bank

c. 1500 BC – 1521

Pre-Hispanic Mexico

Three millennia — and the civilizations were not one after another. The bands below show who overlapped with whom.

Who existed when — they overlap

Olmec
Teotihuacán
Maya (Classic)
Chichén Itzá
Toltec
Mexica (Aztec)

1500 BC1 AD1521 AD

~10,000 BC
Tepexpan Man
One of the oldest human remains found in Mexico, discovered in 1947 by the ancient Lake Texcoco.
Peoples & cities
What is the Tepexpan Man?
A prehistoric skeleton found in 1947 on the shores of the ancient Lake Texcoco, one of the oldest human remains found in Mexico
1500–400 BC
Olmec civilization — the mother culture
Colossal heads, jaguar worship, ceremonial centers at San Lorenzo and La Venta.
Peoples & cities
Marshall Astor (Life on the… · CC BY-SA 2.0
Which culture is considered the mother culture?
Olmec
Which culture did the colossal heads belong to?
Olmecs
Which culture made stone tables for ceremonial worship?
Olmec
Which culture had the jaguar as its principal symbol?
Olmec
Which culture worshipped the jaguar?
The Olmecs
What was the most important sacred ceremonial center of the Olmec culture?
La Venta
What was one of the oldest major Olmec centers?
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, in Veracruz
100–650 AD
Teotihuacán at its height
“City of the gods”: the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon on the Avenue of the Dead. The largest city of the Classic period.
Peoples & cities · Monuments
Hdlrosa · CC BY-SA 4.0
What does the name Teotihuacán mean?
City of the gods
Where are the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon located?
Teotihuacán
What was the main avenue that ran through Teotihuacán?
The Avenue of the Dead
What products were obtained from the maguey in Teotihuacán?
Pulque, textile fibers, and cordage
What was the largest and most powerful city in Mesoamerica during the Classic period?
Teotihuacan
250–900 AD
Maya Classic period
Great mathematicians and astronomers — they discovered zero. Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Belize and Guatemala; Palenque, Toniná, Tikal.
Peoples & cities
Bluemardigrass · CC BY-SA 3.0
Which civilization developed in Chiapas, Tabasco, Belize, Guatemala, Yucatán, and Quintana Roo?
Maya
Which culture discovered the number zero?
Maya
What were the Maya famous for being?
Great mathematicians and astronomers
Which culture was present in Chiapas and Quintana Roo?
Mayas
What was the Maya Long Count?
A Mesoamerican calendrical system used to record dates over long periods
Where is Palenque?
Chiapas
At which Maya site is one of Mesoamerica's tallest pyramids located?
Toniná, in Chiapas
In which Maya city have traces of Teotihuacan influence been found?
In Tikal, Guatemala
~600–1200 AD
Chichén Itzá
Maya city in Yucatán. Its main pyramid, El Castillo, is also called the Temple of Kukulkán.
Peoples & cities · Monuments
Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0
In which state is Chichén Itzá located?
Yucatán
Which culture does Chichén Itzá belong to?
Maya
What is the principal pyramid of Chichén Itzá known as?
El Castillo (The Castle)
By what other name is the temple of Chichén Itzá known?
Temple of Kukulkán
~900–1150 AD
Toltecs at Tula
“Toltec” means an inhabitant of Tula.
Peoples & cities
AlejandroLinaresGarcia · CC BY-SA 3.0
Where were the Toltecs from?
Tula
What does "Toltec" mean?
An inhabitant of Tula
1325
Tenochtitlán founded
The Mexica, from mythical Aztlán, build their capital on the lake, with the Templo Mayor at its center.
Peoples & cities · Monuments
thomas kole · CC BY 4.0
When was Tenochtitlán founded?
1325
What was the most important city of the Mexica Empire?
Tenochtitlán
Which temple was built at the center of Tenochtitlán?
Templo Mayor
What was the mythical place the Aztecs came from?
Aztlán
1428
The Triple Alliance
Tenochtitlan, Texcoco and Tlacopan — the Mexica become the great power of the Postclassic.
Peoples & cities · Government
Which cities formed the Mesoamerican Triple Alliance?
Tenochtitlan, Texcoco, and Tlacopan
Which culture reached the greatest development during the Postclassic period?
The Mexica (Aztec)
What activities were the Mexica (Aztecs) known for?
For being warriors, and for agriculture, trade, and religious worship

1519 – 1810

Conquest & New Spain

Two years of conquest, then three hundred years as a Spanish colony.

Apr 22, 1519
Cortés founds Veracruz
La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz, the first Spanish town in Mexico.
Wars & conflicts
On what date was Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz first founded?
April 22, 1519
Who founded La Villa Rica de la Vera Cruz?
Hernán Cortés
Nov 8, 1519
Cortés enters Tenochtitlán
Received by Moctezuma Xocoyotzin.
Wars & conflicts
On what date did the Spanish conquistadors first enter México-Tenochtitlan?
On November 8, 1519
Which Mexica ruler received Hernán Cortés in 1519?
Moctezuma Xocoyotzin
Aug 13, 1521
Fall of Tenochtitlán
The dividing line: everything before it is pre-Hispanic Mexico.
Wars & conflicts
In what year did Mexico-Tenochtitlán fall to the Spanish?
1521
When did Tenochtitlan fall?
August 13, 1521
What period does pre-Hispanic Mexico encompass?
The period before the Spanish conquest of Mexico-Tenochtitlan in 1521
1530–1560
Consolidation of the conquest
Wars & conflicts
What was the approximate period of the consolidation of the conquest?
1530-1560
1539
First printing press
Established in Mexico City — the first in the Americas.
Culture & arts
In what year was the first printing press established in Mexico City?
1539
1542
The New Laws
Intended to improve the lives of Indigenous people.
Laws & constitutions
What laws were intended to improve the lives of Indigenous people?
The New Laws of 1542
1604
Grandeza mexicana
Bernardo de Balbuena’s poem about New Spain.
Culture & arts
Which poem did Bernardo de Balbuena publish in 1604 about New Spain?
Grandeza mexicana
1719
Tribunal de la Acordada
Institutions
What judicial tribunal was created in New Spain in 1719?
Tribunal de la Acordada
1770
Intendancy of Arizpe
The first intendancy of New Spain, covering Sonora and Sinaloa.
Institutions
What was the first intendancy created in New Spain?
The Intendancy of Arizpe, founded in 1770, covering Sonora and Sinaloa

1810 – 1876

Independence & Reform

From the Grito to the death of Juárez: two empires, one US invasion, and the Reform.

Sep 16, 1810
The Grito — independence war begins
Miguel Hidalgo calls the uprising in Dolores.
Wars & conflicts
On what date did Mexico's War of Independence begin?
September 16th, 1810
1811
Hidalgo and Allende executed
Wars & conflicts
Which insurgent leader was executed by firing squad along with Miguel Hidalgo in 1811?
Ignacio Allende
1811
College of Mining
The first institution dedicated to the study of science and the arts.
Institutions
What was the first institution, created in 1811, dedicated to the study of science and the arts?
College of Mining
1812
Constitution of Cádiz
Spain’s constitution, applied to New Spain — it divided it into six provinces and gave the Zócalo its formal name.
Laws & constitutions
What document describes the changes in Spain that also affected New Spain?
The Constitution of Cádiz (1812)
Which constitution divided New Spain into six provinces?
Constitution of Cádiz (1812)
Where does the Plaza de la Constitución, now known as the Zócalo, get its name from?
From the 1812 Constitution of Cádiz
1813
Sentimientos de la Nación
José María Morelos y Pavón’s founding document.
Laws & constitutions
Who authored Sentimientos de la Nación?
José María Morelos y Pavón
1814
Constitution of Apatzingán
The first constitution of independent Mexico — promulgated, but never in force.
Laws & constitutions
In what year was the Constitution of Apatzingán promulgated?
1814
What was the first constitution of independent Mexico?
The Constitution of Apatzingán (1814), which never took effect; the Constitution of 1824 was the first actually in force
Feb 24, 1821
Plan de Iguala
Proclaimed by Agustín de Iturbide.
Laws & constitutions
What was the name of the document Iturbide proclaimed on February 24, 1821?
Plan de Iguala
Aug 24, 1821
Treaty of Córdoba
Recognized Mexico’s independence.
Laws & constitutions
Which treaty signed in August 1821 recognized Mexico's independence?
Treaty of Córdoba
When was the Treaty of Córdoba signed?
August 24, 1821
1822
Iturbide crowned emperor
Agustín I, first emperor — never the answer to a question about presidents. Deposed by the Plan de Casa Mata.
Government
Who was the first emperor of independent Mexico?
Agustín de Iturbide, as Agustín I.
What was the Plan de Casa Mata about?
Santa Anna against the Iturbide Empire
Oct 10, 1824
Guadalupe Victoria — first president
Under the Constitution of 1824, the first actually in force.
Government
Carlos Paris · CC BY-SA 3.0
Who was the first president of Mexico?
Guadalupe Victoria
1834
“The City of Palaces”
English traveler Charles Latrobe names Mexico City.
Culture & arts
What is Mexico City known as?
The City of Palaces: the name given to it in 1834 by Charles Latrobe, an English traveler who toured the streets of Mexico City
1836
Battle of San Jacinto
Samuel Houston defeats Santa Anna; Texas separates from Mexico.
Wars & conflicts
Who defeated General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836?
General Samuel Houston, during the Texas war of independence
1847
US invasion — the Niños Héroes
Cadets defend Chapultepec Castle; the St. Patrick’s Battalion fights on the Mexican side.
Wars & conflicts
Sarumo74 · CC BY 3.0
Which cadet was one of the Niños Héroes who defended Chapultepec Castle in 1847?
Vicente Suárez Ferrer
What name was given to the group of cadets who fought against the United States in Mexico City?
Niños Héroes
Which foreign battalion participated in the war against the United States?
St. Patrick's Battalion
1850
First railway
Veracruz to El Molino.
Institutions
In what year was Mexico's first stretch of railway, between Veracruz and El Molino, inaugurated?
In 1850
1855
Plan of Ayutla
Ends Santa Anna’s dictatorship.
Laws & constitutions
Which plan ended Santa Anna's dictatorship?
The Plan of Ayutla
1857–1860
The Reform Laws
Under Benito Juárez: separation of church and state.
Laws & constitutions
What laws, enacted between 1857 and 1860 under Benito Juárez, separated church and state?
Reform Laws
1858–1861
Reform War
The Three Years’ War, liberals against conservatives.
Wars & conflicts
Which conflict is known as the Three Years' War?
The Reform War (1858-1861), between liberals and conservatives
Jul 28, 1859
Civil Registry established
Created with the Reform Laws under Juárez.
Institutions
On what date was the first civil registry formally established?
July 28, 1859, with the Reform Laws (under Benito Juárez)
May 5, 1862
Battle of Puebla
Ignacio Zaragoza defeats the French — Cinco de Mayo.
Wars & conflicts
On what date did the Battle of Puebla take place?
May 5, 1862
Who led the Mexican army in the victory at the 1862 Battle of Puebla?
Ignacio Zaragoza
Jun 19, 1867
Maximilian executed
End of the Second Empire under Maximiliano de Habsburgo, the second emperor.
Government · Wars & conflicts
When did Maximilian of Habsburg die?
June 19, 1867
Who was the second emperor of Mexico?
Maximiliano de Habsburgo
1867
Free, compulsory education
The Organic Law of Public Instruction, under Juárez.
Laws & constitutions · Institutions
In what year was elementary education declared free and compulsory in Mexico?
In 1867, under the Organic Law of Public Instruction, during Benito Juárez's government
Which 1867 law regulated public instruction in the Federal District?
The Organic Law of Public Instruction
1871
Plan de la Noria
Porfirio Díaz against Juárez’s reelection.
Laws & constitutions
Which plan did Porfirio Díaz promote against Benito Juárez's reelection?
The Plan of La Noria
1872
Juárez dies in office
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada assumes the presidency.
Government
Who assumed the presidency of Mexico after Benito Juárez died in 1872?
Sebastián Lerdo de Tejada, then president of the Supreme Court

1876 – 1920

Porfiriato & Revolution

Thirty-five years of Díaz, then the decade that produced the 1917 Constitution.

1876–1911
The Porfiriato
Porfirio Díaz governs for over 30 years.
Government
What is the period of Mexican history from 1876 to 1911, just before the Revolution, called?
The Porfiriato, the era when Porfirio Díaz governed
Who was Porfirio Díaz?
A military hero of the fight against the French intervention, and the president who ruled Mexico for over 30 years, until 1911
1887
First woman doctor
Matilde Montoya earns a medical degree.
Culture & arts
Who was the first woman to earn a medical degree in Mexico?
Matilde Montoya
1896
First film shot in Mexico
Porfirio Díaz riding a horse in Chapultepec Forest.
Culture & arts
What was the first film shot in Mexico?
An 1896 short film showing President Porfirio Díaz riding a horse in Chapultepec Forest
1906
Cananea strike
The Sonora miners’ strike, a precursor of the Revolution.
Wars & conflicts
Which 1906 miners' strike is considered a precursor of the Mexican Revolution?
The Cananea strike, in Sonora
1907
Palacio de Correos inaugurated
Monuments
Which famous Mexico City building was inaugurated in 1907?
The Palacio de Correos (Postal Palace)
Sep 16, 1910
Angel of Independence inaugurated
For the independence centennial. It fell in the earthquake of July 28, 1957.
Monuments
Carlos Valenzuela · CC BY-SA 4.0
On what date was the Angel of Independence inaugurated?
September 16, 1910
When did the Angel of Independence fall?
July 28, 1957
In what year did the Angel of Independence fall?
1957
Nov 20, 1910
The Revolution begins
Madero’s Plan of San Luis calls the uprising. “Effective suffrage, no reelection.”
Wars & conflicts
Which document called for the uprising of November 20, 1910?
The Plan of San Luis
What book did Francisco I. Madero write before the Mexican Revolution?
The Presidential Succession in 1910
Whose slogan was "Effective suffrage, no reelection" during the Revolution?
Francisco I. Madero's.
In which conflict did the adelitas accompany their men into combat?
The 1910 Revolution
Feb 9–19, 1913
The Ten Tragic Days
The coup against Madero; Huerta takes power.
Wars & conflicts
What coup d'état lasted from February 9 to 19, 1913?
The Ten Tragic Days
Mar 26, 1913
Plan of Guadalupe
Carranza disavows Huerta’s government.
Laws & constitutions
What plan, signed on March 26, 1913, disavowed Victoriano Huerta's government for its betrayal of Francisco I. Madero?
Plan of Guadalupe
Feb 5, 1917
Constitution of 1917
Mexico’s current constitution.
Laws & constitutions
On what date was Mexico's current Political Constitution promulgated?
February 5, 1917
Apr 10, 1919
Zapata assassinated
At the Chinameca hacienda, Morelos.
Wars & conflicts
When and where was Emiliano Zapata assassinated?
On April 10, 1919, at the Chinameca hacienda in Morelos

1920 – today

Modern Mexico

The institutions the exam loves — IMSS, ISSSTE, the PRI, the Metro — and the date pairs it uses as traps.

Jul 20, 1923
Pancho Villa assassinated
In Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua.
Wars & conflicts
When and where was Pancho Villa assassinated?
On July 20, 1923, in Hidalgo del Parral, Chihuahua
1925
Bank of Mexico founded
Under Plutarco Elías Calles.
Institutions
Who founded the Bank of Mexico?
Plutarco Elías Calles
1926–1929
Calles Law & Cristero War
Wars & conflicts · Laws & constitutions
What was the Calles Law?
A 1926 law that restricted Catholic worship and enforced anticlerical constitutional provisions
What was the Cristero War?
An armed conflict between the Mexican state and Catholic groups, from 1926 to 1929
1928
Obregón assassinated
As president-elect.
Government
Which president-elect of Mexico was assassinated in 1928?
Álvaro Obregón
1928–1934
The Maximato
Portes Gil, Ortiz Rubio and Abelardo L. Rodríguez govern while Calles holds the real power. The exam asks for the three names together.
Government
During what period did the Maximato occur?
From 1928 to 1934
Which presidents governed during the Maximato?
Emilio Portes Gil, Pascual Ortiz Rubio, and Abelardo L. Rodríguez (1928-1934).
1929
PNR founded; UNAM autonomy
Calles founds the party that became the PRI — in power until 2000. The public university becomes autonomous the same year.
Government · Institutions
Who founded the National Revolutionary Party (PNR) in 1929?
Plutarco Elías Calles
Which political party governed Mexico without interruption for most of the twentieth century?
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), in power until 2000
During which president's term did the public university become autonomous?
Emilio Portes Gil (1929)
1932
Santa — first Mexican sound film
Culture & arts
Which 1932 film is considered the first Mexican feature film with synchronized optical sound?
Santa
1933
Charrería formalized
Sports
Which Mexican sport was formalized in 1933?
Charrería
1934
Palacio de Bellas Artes opens
Inaugurated under Abelardo Rodríguez. Los Pinos becomes the presidential residence the same year.
Monuments
Xavier Quetzalcoatl Contrera… · CC BY-SA 3.0
What was inaugurated during the period of Abelardo Rodríguez Luján?
The Palace of Fine Arts (Palacio de Bellas Artes)
What was Los Pinos?
The official residence of Mexico's presidency from 1934 to 2018
1936
IPN created
By Lázaro Cárdenas.
Institutions
Which president created the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN)?
Lázaro Cárdenas
Mar 18, 1938
Oil expropriation — PEMEX
Lázaro Cárdenas takes the oil. Don’t confuse: López Portillo took the banks, in 1982.
Government · Institutions
Which president expropriated the oil industry?
Lázaro Cárdenas del Río
Which oil company did Lázaro Cárdenas create?
PEMEX / Petróleos Mexicanos
1942
Mexico enters World War II
Ávila Camacho declares war on the Axis.
Wars & conflicts
Which Mexican president declared war on the Axis powers during World War II?
Manuel Ávila Camacho, in 1942
1943
IMSS created; anthem made official
Both under Manuel Ávila Camacho. The anthem was first sung Sep 15, 1854.
Institutions
In what year was the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) created?
In 1943, during the presidency of Manuel Ávila Camacho
When was the national anthem officially declared?
In 1943, during the presidency of Manuel Ávila Camacho. It was first sung on September 15, 1854
Which national symbol was officially recognized in 1943?
The national anthem
1953
Women’s suffrage approved
Under Adolfo Ruiz Cortines.
Laws & constitutions
In what year was women's suffrage approved?
1953
Jul 3, 1955
Women vote for the first time
Two years after approval — the exam tests both dates.
Government
When did women vote for the first time in Mexico?
July 3, 1955
1956
Torre Latinoamericana
Monuments
Which skyscraper in downtown Mexico City, inaugurated in 1956, has withstood several major earthquakes?
The Torre Latinoamericana
1959
ISSSTE created
Under Adolfo López Mateos, for state workers. IMSS: 1943, private sector.
Institutions
Which institution was inaugurated during the presidency of Adolfo López Mateos?
ISSSTE (Institute for Social Security and Services for State Workers)
During which administration was the ISSSTE created?
Adolfo López Mateos
Oct 1968
Olympics & Tlatelolco
Mexico City hosts the Games; the student movement ends in the October 2 massacre. President: Díaz Ordaz.
Sports · Wars & conflicts
When were the Olympic Games held in Mexico?
1968 in Mexico City
In what year did Mexico's largest student mobilization occur?
1968
On what date did the Tlatelolco massacre occur?
October 2, 1968
Who was president of Mexico during the 1968 Tlatelolco massacre?
Gustavo Díaz Ordaz
Sep 4, 1969
Metro Line 1 opens
One year after the Olympics, also under Díaz Ordaz.
Institutions
Lance Wayman bajo solicitud… · CC BY-SA 4.0
On what date was the first line of the Mexico City Metro inaugurated?
September 4th, 1969
During whose presidency was the Mexico City Metro inaugurated?
Gustavo Díaz Ordaz's, in 1969
1970
World Cup — first of three
Mexico hosts in 1970, 1986 and 2026.
Sports
In which years did Mexico host the World Cup?
1970, 1986 and 2026
1979
Pope John Paul II visits
Received by José López Portillo.
Culture & arts
Which president received Pope John Paul II on his first visit to Mexico, in 1979?
José López Portillo
1982
Banks nationalized; Nobel Peace Prize
López Portillo takes the banks; Alfonso García Robles wins the Nobel for disarmament work.
Government
Which president nationalized the banks?
José López Portillo
Who received the 1982 Nobel Peace Prize for disarmament work?
Alfonso García Robles
Sep 19, 1985
Mexico City earthquake
Miguel de la Madrid is president — and for the 1986 World Cup.
Government
Which president was in office during the 1985 earthquake and the 1986 World Cup?
Miguel de la Madrid
1990
IFE founded; Paz wins the Nobel
The electoral institute, replaced by the INE in 2014; Octavio Paz takes the Literature Nobel.
Institutions · Culture & arts
In what year was the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) founded?
1990
Which Mexican received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990?
Octavio Paz
In what year did the INE replace the IFE?
In 2014
Dec 17, 1992
NAFTA signed; El Tajín UNESCO
Government
When was the North American Free Trade Agreement signed?
December 17, 1992
What site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992?
El Tajín
Jan 1, 1994
NAFTA takes effect; Zapatista uprising
Both on the same day.
Government · Wars & conflicts
When did NAFTA take effect?
January 1st, 1994
Which movement emerged in Chiapas on January 1, 1994?
Zapatista
2000
PRI’s 71-year run ends
Vicente Fox wins; Soraya Jiménez lifts weightlifting gold in Sydney the same year.
Government · Sports
Which political party governed Mexico without interruption for most of the twentieth century?
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), in power until 2000
Which weightlifter won the gold medal at the Sydney 2000 Olympics?
Soraya Jiménez Mendívil
2003
Ana Guevara, world champion
400-meter dash; Olympic silver in Athens 2004.
Sports
In which athletics event did Ana Gabriela Guevara excel?
The 400-meter dash; she was world champion in 2003 and won Olympic silver in Athens 2004
2004
Seguro Popular created
Health coverage for people without social security.
Institutions
What was the name of the health insurance program created in 2004 for people without social security coverage?
Seguro Popular
2006
First vote from abroad
Government
In what year did Mexicans first vote from abroad?
2006
Jan 29, 2016
DF becomes CDMX
The digital TV switchover had closed a month earlier, Dec 31, 2015.
Government
Which city changed its name in 2016?
Ciudad de México / Mexico City
When did the name change from the Federal District (DF) to Mexico City (CDMX)?
January 29, 2016
When did Mexico complete its transition to digital terrestrial television?
December 31, 2015
2018
Del Toro wins the Golden Globe
Best Director, for The Shape of Water.
Culture & arts
Which Mexican director won the 2018 Golden Globe for Best Director for The Shape of Water?
Guillermo del Toro
2020
Census: 126 million
Government
What was Mexico's population according to the 2020 Population and Housing Census?
126,014,024 inhabitants
2026
World Cup returns
Third time as host: 1970, 1986 and 2026.
Sports
In which years did Mexico host the World Cup?
1970, 1986 and 2026

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3,500 years, to true scale

Pre-Hispanic Mexico

Who existed when — they overlap

Tepexpan Man

Olmec civilization — the mother culture

Teotihuacán at its height

Maya Classic period

Chichén Itzá

Toltecs at Tula

Tenochtitlán founded

The Triple Alliance

Conquest & New Spain

Cortés founds Veracruz

Cortés enters Tenochtitlán

Fall of Tenochtitlán

Consolidation of the conquest

First printing press

The New Laws

Grandeza mexicana

Tribunal de la Acordada

Intendancy of Arizpe

Independence & Reform

The Grito — independence war begins

Hidalgo and Allende executed

College of Mining

Constitution of Cádiz

Sentimientos de la Nación

Constitution of Apatzingán

Plan de Iguala

Treaty of Córdoba

Iturbide crowned emperor

Guadalupe Victoria — first president

“The City of Palaces”

Battle of San Jacinto

US invasion — the Niños Héroes

First railway

Plan of Ayutla

The Reform Laws

Reform War

Civil Registry established

Battle of Puebla

Maximilian executed

Free, compulsory education

Plan de la Noria

Juárez dies in office

Porfiriato & Revolution

The Porfiriato

First woman doctor

First film shot in Mexico

Cananea strike

Palacio de Correos inaugurated

Angel of Independence inaugurated

The Revolution begins

The Ten Tragic Days

Plan of Guadalupe

Constitution of 1917

Zapata assassinated

Modern Mexico

Pancho Villa assassinated

Bank of Mexico founded

Calles Law & Cristero War

Obregón assassinated

The Maximato

PNR founded; UNAM autonomy

Santa — first Mexican sound film

Charrería formalized

Palacio de Bellas Artes opens

IPN created

Oil expropriation — PEMEX

Mexico enters World War II

IMSS created; anthem made official

Women’s suffrage approved

Women vote for the first time

Torre Latinoamericana

ISSSTE created

Olympics & Tlatelolco

Metro Line 1 opens

World Cup — first of three

Pope John Paul II visits

Banks nationalized; Nobel Peace Prize