Figure 1.--The photo was taken in Guaymas, Sonora, a northern state (August 10, 1915). It shows two very young revolutionary Mexican soldiers, no dobt close friends. The writing in English made some spelling mistakes. Maurillio Sanches sould be Maurilio Sánchez. The boys have rifles and the characteristic cartridge belts. They wear traditional shirts and trousers. The older boy wears minimal huarache sandals and the younger is barefoot. >

The older children or youth might actually join the army. They were employed by all sides. More children were involved in the Mexican Revolution than might be expdected. A fctor here was the number of women ythat oparticipated in the Revolution. Mexican wimen did noit just stay at home, many accipabied their hisbanfs. Which meant that they briught the chikldren with them. And may of thise chikdrengot involved in the fifgting. Other children were involved in the forced levies that were conducted by the various warring forces. It was quite common to include teenagers in these levies and in some cases children not yet in their teen years. We do not see many child soldiers, but we do see quite a numnbr of teengers, including younger teenagers. It should not be thought that the children were passive victims. Many children like their parents were caught up in the popular passions of the day. We suspect this was especially the case of peasant children. Middle-class and upper-class children were probably kept out of the fighting by their parents. Here the sane dynamic was involved as in the American Civil War. We have not yet found a good historical assessment of the impact of the Revolution on children. Hopefully our Mexican readers will have some suggestions here.

Sources

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Created: 4:21 AM 4/1/2021
Last updated: 4:21 AM 4/1/2021