在1876年Lerdo再度當選，擊敗迪亞斯（Diaz）。 1876年，迪亞斯反抗政府並宣佈計劃推翻 Lerdo 自立為總統。迪亞斯推翻原政府後，Lerdo逃離該國，迪亞斯成為新的總統。從而開始了超過三十年（1876年到1911年）的獨裁統治，這個時期的相對繁榮與和平，該國的基礎設施大為改善，這有賴外國投資。
接下來的執政者是狄亞茲（Jose de la Cruz Porfirio Diaz），執政達55年之久（1876-1911），在他執政的期間，為了追求經濟成長與社會秩序，實行專製獨裁，打壓所有的反對言論。然而不可諱言的是，狄亞茲造就了墨西哥前所未有的經濟榮景。但是長期的執政及獨裁政治，終於導致反對人士的反撲，不過反對勢力呈三足鼎立，未能整合，耗損大量國力於內戰。
In 1876 Lerdo was re-elected, defeating Porfirio Díaz in the elections. Díaz rebelled against the government with the proclamation of the Plan de Tuxtepec, in which he opposed reelection, in 1876. Díaz managed to overthrow Lerdo, who fled the country, and was named president.
Díaz became the new president. Thus began a period of more than thirty years (1876–1911) during which Díaz was the strong man in Mexico. This period of relative prosperity and peace is known as the Porfiriato. During this period, the country's infrastructure improved greatly thanks to increased foreign investment. However, the period is also characterized by social inequality and discontent among the working classes.