Jalisco

Jalisco (Spanish: /xaˈlisko/), officially the Free Province of Jalisco (Provincia Libre de Jalisco) is a Mejican province located within the Bajío region. Jalisco has a population of 11.1 million inhabitants and is the 7th-most populous province in the Empire. Most of Jalisco's population is concentrated within the metropolitan area of Guadalajara, which is the 7th-largest in the country. It is bordered by Nayarit to the northeast, Durango, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes to the north, Guanajuato to the east, Michoacán to the southeast, Colima to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The province covers a total area of 78,588 km2, making it the 18th-largest in the country, and is divided into 125 municipalities.

In the Pre-Hispanic era, Jalisco was inhabited by various indigenous cultures, including the Nahuatl-speaking people of Teuchitlán, who left behind archaeological sites like the Guachimontones circular pyramids. By the 16th century, at the time of the Conquest, the area was primarily under the influence of the Tarascan Empire, which resisted the initial attempts of Hernán Cortés to subdue it. However, in 1524, Spanish forces under Nuño Beltrán de Guzmán defeated the Tarascans, and Jalisco became part of New Spain. The region saw multiple rebellions, the most prominent of which was the Mixtón Rebellion of 1541, which prompted Charles V of Spain to create the Audiencia of Nueva Galicia - an Indian Council was formed, the seat was established in Guadalajara, and it was made independent from Mejico City in 1575.

Despite the multiple conflicts in the region, the 17th and 18th centuries brought development and economic prosperity. In the colonial period, Guadalajara grew as the center of an agricultural and cattle producing area. The region's ceramic tradition began in the early colonial period, with native traditions superimposed by European ones. The Tonalá and Guadalajara traditions were especially prominent, with their wares being exported to other parts of the Spanish Americas and Europe. The area was also important to the commerce of the Viceroyalty, as its strategic location funneled imported goods to other parts of the country.

Following independence, Jalisco quickly emerged as a region with immense economic potential due to its fertile lands and strategic location. Under the rule of the Gabrieline line of the Bourbons and the House of Iturbide, Jalisco saw the early stages of modernization and development. The province became an important agricultural and trading center, with the growth of industries like mining, agriculture, and textiles. During the following decades, Jalisco witnessed political turbulent and local power struggles, with the provincial government changing hands multiple times between Liberals and Conservatives, although the latter managed to maintain power, aligning themselves with the monarchy and the Church. However, Liberal sentiment was strong among the Indigenous population of the province, which rose in rebellion on multiple occasions.

With the ascendance of the Liberals to power, the Three Liberal Decades saw a surge in progressive and positivist reforms and modernization efforts. Jalisco experienced an economic boom, known locally as the Bella Época, with significant investments in infrastructure, education, and industrialization. The province's agricultural sector expanded, and its urban centers flourished with new factories, trading opportunities, and a vibrant literal and artistic scene. The province was plunged into civil war after the assassination of Francisco I. Madero, with the Gabrielists managing to capture the capital city. However, most of the rural areas of the province aligned with Venustiano Carranza's Constitutionalists, who vied for power with Álvaro Obregón and Francisco Villa. The Gabrielists, however, were unable to organize their army effectively and reached an alliance with Carranza in exchange for amnesty. Carranza gained the presidency, putting into place various social and economic reforms and implementing the 1917 Constitution, which curtailed the power of the Church, secularized public education, and forbade worship outside of churches.

Restrictions against the Church were followed by further laws against the practice of religion, which were deeply unpopular within the state, particularly the Calles Law of Plutarco Elías Calle. In 1926, a boycott was organized, and in 1927, thirteen Catholic unions took up arms against the government in an uprising known as the Cristero War. These rebels formed a government, and controlled large parts of Jalisco and the Bajío region, with the war culminating due to the assassination of Calles in 1928. José Vasconcelos would proclaim himself dictator of Mejico in 1932, and enacted successfully the policy of Castizaje in the province, transforming its demographics from a majority Criollo and Mestizo region, to a majority Castizo region today. Under Salvador Abascal, the policies of the previous regime continued to be enacted, and synarchist colonies were founded Villa de María Deigenetriz, and Villa Aranda de San Pedro Apóstol. Together with this, the government invested heavily in infrastructure and the tourism industry, revamping Banderas Bay and Chapala Lake.

The Absolutist Octennium, initiated with the Zócalo Speech by Fernando II, saw Jalisco facing its own set of challenges and opportunities. As the empire underwent a period of intense centralization and absolute rule, Jalisco's support and loyalty to the crown remained steadfast, although some factions advocated for greater autonomy. During the Octennium, Jalisco experienced economic growth and modernization, with increased investments in the agricultural and aerospace industries. Following the end of the Octennium, Mejico transitioned back to democratic governance. Elections were held, and political reforms were implemented to prevent a concentration of power. The nation entered a new era, promoting greater political participation, social progress, and economic development.

Jalisco's cultural heritage is rich and deeply ingrained in the nation's identity. The province is celebrated for its folk traditions, including the world-renowned Mariachi music and traditional dance forms like Jarabe Tapatío. The province's festivals, such as the grand celebration of Día de los Muertos, attract tourists from all over the world, boosting the local economy. Moreover, Jalisco takes immense pride in its thriving arts scene, with a plethora of museums, galleries, and cultural venues promoting visual arts, literature, classical music, and performing arts.

Jalisco's economy is one of the most robust in the Empire, boasting the 8th-largest provincial GDP, and the 5th-highest GDP per capita. The province is at the forefront of cutting-edge transportation infrastructure, boasting a state-of-the-art hypersonic train line, connecting the city of Guadalajara with the capital and surrounding regions with incredible speed and efficiency. The robotics and artificial intelligence industries of Jalisco are large, driving advancements in automation, manufacturing, AI research, healthcare, and agriculture. Together with these industries, Jalisco has become a hub for biotechnology and medical research, compounding with artificial intelligence research, focusing on gene editing, regenerative medicine, and pharmaceutical developments.