Why is USA richer than Mexico?

[goodman528]

Because the Spanish raped the land of all its gold and resources, and most likely the natives too. they left nothing for Mexico to revitalize itself with. The United States region still had abundant natural resources, such as coal and iron- things that wouldn't be needed until the industrial revolution.

Oh, and America had its own slaves. That helped.

USA has more natural resources.

In the companion thread to this, why Japan is so rich, no one raised the point of Japan's lack of natural resources as a disadvantage.

 

[zacaron]

Simple. The US got more immigrants from Europe, because the area was more contested, more resource-rich, and less disease-prone due to the colder temperatures. Mexico never overcame that disadvantage.

Also, you can't forget that the US bought half of Mexico in 1848 for $15 million.

enter log: win lottery use money to build time machine, use time machine to go back and win next lottery, go back 150 years, use capital to become king of mexico.

 

[AntiThom]

Well we're two dynamically different countries geographically, also our (former) English founders came here to escape persecution and create their own great country, Spain went to Mexico to fuck the place over until they were kicked out.

 

[Alphieus]

because mexico sucks...

 

[Dramatic Flare]

Because the Spanish raped the land of all its gold and resources, and most likely the natives too. they left nothing for Mexico to revitalize itself with. The United States region still had abundant natural resources, such as coal and iron- things that wouldn't be needed until the industrial revolution.

Oh, and America had its own slaves. That helped.

USA has more natural resources.

In the companion thread to this, why Japan is so rich, no one raised the point of Japan's lack of natural resources as a disadvantage.

Japan isn't as rich as people believe. It has a near zero interest rate in its banks, had a horrible national debt even before the current economic depression, and has to import all of its industrial materials.
It just simply happens to be the most technologically advanced nation, and that's because the United States set them up to be technologically advanced after the World War 2.

 

[742]

well, for one, we properly murdered our native people, then got rid of them, as is proper for a former european colony, mexico... they bred with them. then theres the fact that the land(usually)-pirates who founded america didnt stab each other in the back.

 

[fix-the-spade]

But why is USA a superpower, and Mexico so poor?

USA: Massive natural resources, support of the British Empire (with gap for war of independence), essentially unified except for two civil wars.

Mexico: Natural resources mostly taken by Texas or later bought off by US companies, constantly at war with itself or America until mid 19th century, not supported or freely traded with by British Empire, armed uprisings as late as 1994.

Mexico's main weakness historically is corrupt governments and civil wars, they just have so many of both.

 

[luckshot]

as others have said since the us had more European countries trying to get territory caused them to up what they invested in their colonies.

another reason is the level of corruption in mexican politics until recently, a president would make reforms and they would never make it beyond mexico city. another reason is they decided to let companies from other countries (not just america) in and use their land rather than develop it themselves.

so an american agricultural company would use mexican land and workers at extreme low price and sell north of the boarder, same with some manufacturing companies

edit: and civil wars too