Final answer:
The Mexican Revolution, beginning in 1910, led to the expulsion of foreign businessmen, especially North Americans, as it sought to curtail foreign dominance and was a nationalist response against economic imperialism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The event leading to the overthrow of the dictator Porfirio Díaz that is particularly remembered for the expulsion of foreigners, most notably North American businessmen, was the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910. The expulsion of these individuals was part of a broader nationalist response to foreign influence and the monopolistic control over Mexico's resources and industries. Revolutionary figures such as Francisco Madero rose against Díaz's regime, with the subsequent revolution unleashing demands for social change and exacerbating tensions between Mexican nationalists and foreign entrepreneurs.
After Porfirio Díaz was overthrown and Madero became president, there was continued pressure for reforms, including land reform, which affected foreign-owned properties and businesses. This period of the Mexican Revolution is marked by its resistance to the economic imperialism perceived to be enforced by countries like the United States, resulting in actions against foreign holdings. While the regime change was not driven solely by an anti-foreign sentiment—seeking various social reforms and more equitable distribution of resources—it did feature the displacement of foreign interests as part of its larger nationalist objectives.
It's important to note that the aforementioned examples of expulsion did not necessarily happen abruptly but were part of a complex intersection of revolutionary ideology, economic nationalism, and the resultant policies implemented by new leadership which sought to curb foreign dominance and control within Mexico.