The primary cause of the Mexican Revolution, which began in 1910, was widespread discontent with the longstanding dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, who had been in power for over three decades. The revolution was fueled by social, economic, and political grievances, particularly the plight of poor rural peasants and disenfranchised workers who suffered under Díaz's policies favoring foreign investment and landowners. The revolution sought to address land reform, labor rights, and democratic governance. Leaders like Francisco I. Madero, Emiliano Zapata, and Pancho Villa emerged, rallying various social groups and ultimately leading to a transformation of Mexican society and government.