 |
 Hernando Cortés
came to the New World in search of adventure and
wealth in 1504. He began his conquest of the
Aztec Empire in March of 1519, and had completed
his conquest by August of 1521. |
 Montezuma II
(Moctezuma II) was the 9th Emperor
of the Aztecs, and was on the throne when
Hernando Cortés invaded the Aztec
Empire. He was killed while trying to calm his
people during a riot against the Spaniards. |
 Antonio López de Santa Anna fought on both sides of the Mexican
independence movement, helped install and
overthrow several Presidents, and, as President,
led Mexico to defeat in the war with the United
States. |
 Porfírio
Díaz was part of the revolution
that overthrew Santa Anna, and of the revolution
that removed France from Mexico. He went on to
serve as President of Mexico twice. |
 Pancho Villa
"earned" his living leading a band of
bandits who caused enough havoc in the United
States to have the force of the U.S. Army sent
into Mexico to pursue and capture him; the
pursuit failed, and Villa became a hero. |
 José López
Portillo y Pachecho served as
President of Mexico from 1976 to 1982. During his
administration Mexico's economy enjoyed a boom
thanks to major oil deposits in the Gulf of
Mexico. |
