Zapata Project 1

History’s Characters 1
Emiliano Zapata
(August 8, 1879 - April 10, 1919)
Considered a national Mexican heroe, he was a
leading figure in the revolution of 1910 against the
dictatorship of Porfirio DÌaz. The motto of his
movement was “land and freedom.” He spent his life
defending the the rights of poor farmers to be justly
compensated for their work amd fighting for the restitution of lands usurped by the wealthy landowners of prerevolutionary
Mexico.
Francisco I. Madero
Gonzalez
(October 30, 1873 - February 22, 1913)
He launched the revolution that brought the Porfirio
Diaz dictatorship to an end and served as President
of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. His indecisive
handling of Mexico’s problems caused both
revolutionary & wealthy sectors in his country to become dissillusioned with his government. He was
overthrown by the head of his own army, Victoriano Huerta, and assasinated in 1913.
Venustiano Carranza
(December 29, 1859 - May 21, 1920)
One of the the leaders of the Mexican
Revolution, he ultimately became President of
Mexico. The country’s current constitution was
drafted during his administration. Carranza was
an early supporter of Francisco I. Madero’s
efforts to overthrow the Porfirio DÌaz dictatorship, and when Madero came to power he appointed
Carranza Secretary of War and of the Navy. Carranza’s forces were known as the Constitutionalist
Army. Carranza later revolted, claiming the presidency when Madero was overthrown.
Francisco “Pancho” Villa
(June 5, 1877 - July 20, 1923)
His real name was Doroteo Arango Ar·mbula, but he
was better known as Francisco “Pancho” Villa, the
Mexican revolutionary. In 1911, Villa helped defeat
the federal army of Porfirio DÌaz in favor of
Francisco I. Madero. After that, Villa rebelled again,
this time against Victoriano Huerta and later against fellow revolutionary Venustiano Carranza. His “North
Division” controlled that territory from 1911 to 1915, when he suffered the first of a series of crushing defeats at
the hands of another revolutionary fighter: Alvaro ObregÛn. In 1920, Villa ended his revolutionary actions. He
was assassinated three years later in Parral, Chihuahua.