Land Ownership Transformation in Early 1900s Mexico

The Mexican Revolution (1910–1920) catalyzed radical land reform:

Key Changes

• Redistribution: Peasant demands (Zapata, Villa) forced breakup of haciendas.
• 1917 Constitution (Article 27): Legalized expropriation and redistribution.
• Ejido System: Communal land grants to villages—usufruct rights, not private ownership.
• Expropriation Programs: Government seized large/underused estates with compensation.
• Agrarian Laws (1930s–40s): Created tribunals to oversee distribution and resolve disputes.

Impact

• Hacienda power shattered.
• Millions of peasants gained land access.
• Challenges: corruption, inefficiency, resistance.

This era laid foundations for a more equitable (though imperfect) agrarian structure.