The Aims of Emiliano Zapata
When the Mexican Revolution was finally started by Francisco Madero in 1910, Emiliano Zapata emerged as one of the leaders against the Diaz government. In 1911, after deciding the new Maderista government was no better than the Diaz administration, Zapata, along with his fellow revolutionaries, published the ground breaking Plan de Ayala. This 15 point document detailed the revolutionaries' plans to reform Mexico [Womack]. For a complete version of Zapata's Plan de Ayala, click here.
Emiliano Zapata operated primarily in the mountainous province of Morelos, located south of the capitol, training and equipping revolutionaries from the local villages to fight [Turriaga] . He focused on helping the peasant classes, unlike many revolutionary leaders of the time [Ruiz].
Some would call Zapata's political beliefs socialist. He supported land reform throughout rural Mexico, wanting to redistribute the lands of the haciendas to the peasants. He also wanted to reestablish the ejidos, shared lands that were owned by a local community [Turriaga]. However, as much as these ideas seem to be communistic or socialist, Zapata was not. Zapata had all he needed, as far as he was concerned. "It can't be said that I went off to battle because of poverty. I've got some land and horses... which I earned through long years of honest work... and which give me and my family enough to live comfortably." [Ruiz]. He supported the socialist ideas of agrarian reforms because he believed it would be best for the working class.
Emiliano Zapata's aims were for the political and economic independence of the peasant class. Realistically, his plans for freeing the lower classes were flawed, as most of the power, land, and money in Mexico was in the hands of the haciendas. Consequently, he tried to work out an agreement with land owners and the lower class to solve the problem. Zapata himself was not a communist, but that he was familiar with communist ideals. Zapata studied communism and called it "good and humane", yet, in the long run found it "impractical." [Turriaga]. Emiliano Zapata was a realist doing what he believed would help Mexicans the most.
Zapata was a radical in Mexico and feared in the United States. He was nicknamed the "Attila of the South" and is famously quoted as saying, "It is better to die on your feet, than live on your knees.[Keen]" He wanted more than anything to improve the lives peasant classes, despite the violence he instigated across the country. According to the New York Times, "Emiliano Zapata caused a reign of terror in the capitol." [4] The United States didn't agree with Zapata because of his total refusal to bargain with them. The United States, becoming frustated with Zapata's legendary stubbornness, chose to support Carranza.
Zapata was interviewed before his death by William Gates a writer from the United States. Gates stated that, "the true social revolution can be found among the Zapatistas." [Welker] Once published Zapata read the article and responded by saying, "Now I can die in peace. Finally they have done us justice." [Welker] Ironically, Emiliano Zapata was killed shortly after by Carrancista troops. After Zapata's death, he turned into a hero of social reform throughout Mexico, transcending common martyrdom and becoming a christ-like savior in eyes of impoverished Mexicans.
Legacy of Zapata and the Constitution of 1917
Zapata's main hope for the Mexican Revolution had always been agrarian reform, a platform he had stuck to without compromise until the end of his life [Keen] . Carranza believed that Zapata was inflexible, making any agreement with him and his "bandits" impossible. He met with Zapata in August of 1914, in Carranza's one and only effort to try and make an agreement with Zapata. Zapata fought for the Plan de Ayala and agrarian reform, as expected. He was turned away [Ruiz]. Relations collapsed between Zapata and Carranza, and Zapata never recognized Carranza as leader of the Constitutionalists.
Although loosely enforced by Carranza and the subsequent rulers of Mexico after Zapata's assasination, the Constitution of 1917 proved Zapata's most enduring legacy. It was in this document that his true goal of an equal Mexican society is realized [Ruiz]. Known as the most liberal document of its time [Keen], the Mexican Constitution of 1917 outlined such previously unheard of benefits as an 8 hour work day, a reasonable minimum wage, the right to work, and most importantly to Zapata, the right of the government to distribute the haciendas rich farm land to the impoversished peonage [Mexican Constitution]. For a complete translation of the Constitution of 1917,
