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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

intervention, Mormon colonists, Mormon studies, Orozco revolution

College

Humanities

Department

History

Abstract

In the summer of 1912 several hundred Mormon colonists fled their homes in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua. They feared for their lives as retreating Orozquista bands moved through the region. Despite revolutionary activities since 1910, the Mormon colonies had enjoyed a relatively peaceful existence until the defeated troops of Pascual Orozco began returning to their homelands. This sudden change in circumstances raises the question of why the Mormons were forced to leave. A stream of Americans had left Mexico since the beginning of the Revolution. However, such a large body of people had not left en masse before. Many writers have argued that this crisis was created because of the cultural isolation and economic rifts which existed between the American colonists and the natives of the land. However, these theories have neglected to consider the military and diplomatic context. While cultural and economic factors contributed to the Mormons’ flight, the Orozquistas led by Jose Inez Salazar provoked the exodus as a desperate attempt to prolong their revolution by drawing the United States into the conflict. They hoped to force the United States to defend its citizens by a military intervention that would discredit the Madero government and unite the masses in their favor. Jose Inez Salazar’s objective was American intervention.

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