Cárdenas, Lázaro, << KAHR day nahs, LAH sah `roh` >> (1895-1970), served as president of Mexico from 1934 to 1940. More than any other president since the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910, he carried out the revolution’s reform aims. He established a program that gave land to the poor. In addition, he promoted the construction of schools and brought foreign-owned oil companies under government control. Cárdenas also reduced the influence of the nation’s rich landowners and of its military. The vast power of these groups had been left over from premodern Mexico. By reducing their influence, Cárdenas helped pave the way for the development of agricultural and commercial capitalism in Mexico.
Cárdenas was born on May 21, 1895, in Jiquilpan, Michoacán. He joined the revolutionary army in 1913 and took an active part in many of its military and political developments. Cárdenas died on Oct. 19, 1970.
