co modernize. The argument maintained that if money from abroad controlled the railroad system, the national economy could be dominated by another nation. Though the Mexican government contributed as much money as it could to railroad building, foreign money provided the majority of capital and the railroad companies were almost totally foreign-owned. Entrepreneurs in the United States held approximately 80 percent of Mexico's railroad stock. (Gil)The Significance of the Frontier in American History, delivered in 1893 by Frederick Jackson Turner emphasized, among other things, that the rigors of the American West and westward migration gave the United States its unique personality and character. Diaz thus sought to create a similar culture and mythology for Mexico. Since the Indian Wars were a part of this period in American history, Porfirio Diz also sought to replicate this situation in Mexico. He thus prosecuted the Yaqui Wars beginning in the 1880s, which continued through the 1920s, the benefits of which yielded new lands for expansion and foreign exploitation. These events led Mexicans to distrust the United States and created a feeling of inferiority and began to dislike their three thousand mile border with the United States. A prominent writer about Mexican domestic politics and North American free trade, M Delal Baer, spoke to Congress about Mexican views towards the United States. She stated that Mexico viewed the United States as its greatest natural enemy, an attitude summed up in the famous saying Poor Mexico, so far from God, and so close to the United States. The U.S., from its lofty perch of superpower status, did not do a great deal to alleviate Mexicos concerns. U.S, attitudes ranged from benign neglect to arrogant unilateralismthe principal goal of the Mexican diplomacy for much of the 20th century was to keep the U.S. at arms length and to demonstrate its independence by opposing U.S. objectives. Mexico tried...
