Lázaro Cárdenas

21 May 1895 – 19 October 1970

Lázaro Cárdenas del Río was a Mexican general and politician who served as President of Mexico from 1934 to 1940. He is best remembered for nationalizing the country's oil industry, carrying out extensive land reform, and consolidating the institutions of the post-revolutionary Mexican state.

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Life events

Born in Jiquilpan, Michoacán
21 May 1895

Lázaro Cárdenas was born into a modest family in Jiquilpan, in the Mexican state of Michoacán.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Birth ✓
Joined the Mexican Revolution
1913

Cárdenas joined the revolutionary forces as a young man and rose through the military ranks.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Governor of Michoacán
1928 – 1932

He served as governor of his home state, pursuing education, labor, and land reform.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Elected President of Mexico
1 December 1934 – 30 November 1940

Cárdenas took office as President of Mexico, beginning a transformative six-year term.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Land reform and distribution of ejidos
1935 – 1940

Cárdenas distributed tens of millions of acres of land to peasants through collective ejido holdings.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Broke with former president Plutarco Elías Calles
1936

Cárdenas moved against the political dominance of Calles, exiling him and establishing his own authority.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Granted asylum to Leon Trotsky
1937

His government offered political asylum to the exiled Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Nationalized the Mexican oil industry
18 March 1938

He expropriated foreign-owned oil companies and created the state oil company PEMEX.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Mexico City
19 October 1970

Cárdenas died in Mexico City and is remembered as one of Mexico's most influential presidents.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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