Analyzing Information - The Uprising in Chiapas

Democracy in Mexico: Peasant Rebellion and Political Form

Sources

1A–Book  B-Secondary Source (analysis)  C-Non-Governmental organization  D-Mexico
2 - Released in 1995 and it discusses Mexican law from 1917-1925 and how it relates to the Chiapas
3 - Dan La Botz
4 - Did research in Mexico in 1995 to work on his PhD dissertation "Slackers: American War Resisters in Mexico 1917-1925"
5 - He obtained his information from history
6 - He references the Mexican Constitution and the Mexican legislature
7 - The author’s point of view is that the Chiapas rebellion is a result of the changes of the Mexican constitution.  He has this perspective as it allows the privatization of communal land holdings.

Analysis

1 - Chiapas rebellion is a result of the deletion of Article 27
2 - Privatization - the land is taken from the people and given and sold to corporations
3 - Why would Mexico give up its land and water that was owned by the people and just give it away?

Chiapas 1994

Sources

1A–Personal Report  B-Primary Source (first-hand account)  C-Government Office  D-Mexico
2 - Released in 1994 and it his opinion of the current situation
3 - Carlos Arriola
4- NAFTAs chief negotiator for the Mexican government

5 - He obtained his information from his experiences
6 - It is his opinion and it is linked by his experiences to the event
7 - He looked at the rebellion as an attempt to draw attention.

Analysis

1 - The rebellion is a result of common criminals trying to take advantage of situations to break the law
2 - Uprising - Criminal acts are occurring during this time
3 - Why are rebels considered as criminals?  How are they supposed to change the law?

Comparing and Contrasting Information

1 - They were contradicting as the rebellion was justified in Democracy of Mexico by the deletion of Article 27 and Arriola thought the rebellion was done by common criminals looking to cause problems.
2 - They are both reliable as they are both interpreting the situation. 
3 - I think Democracy in Mexico is more credible as La Botz is able to reference the constitution and the Chiapas behavior is justified.  Arriola appears to be giving his opinion and is not able to support his claims as effectively.
4 - I believe the uprising had more to do with the communal ownership of land being privatized.  The Mexican nation was the owner of the land and waters of the nation.  With this taken away peasants are no longer able to be self-supportive.