The Life of Emiliano ZapataBy: Coleen Brodman

His Early Life Emiliano Zapata was born on August 8, 1879 in Anenecuilco, Morelos, Mexico. He died on April 10, 1919.Emiliano was the son of a mestizo peasant who trained and sold horses. He was orphaned at the age of 17 because his dad died. He then was put in charge of his other 9 siblings.

http://www.indigenouspeople.net/zapata.htm

Emiliano as a child.

Map of Emiliano’s home town, Anenecuilco, Morelos, Mexico.

Emiliano’s Dad on one of his horses.

Drafted By the Military In 1906 Zapata attended a meeting in Cuautla to talk about a way to defend the people. In 1908, due to his first acts of rebellion, Emiliano was drafted and sent to Cuernavaca.Since he was skilled with horses, he was only a soldier for 6 months. He was soon sent to Mexico City.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

Town of Cuautla.

The town of Cuernavaca.

Emiliano and friends in Mexico City.

Chief Zapata In 1909, chief leader, Jose Merino, called a town meeting in Anenecuilco. He was old and wanted to resign, so he needed people to vote for a new leader. Merino wanted someone who was young and could easily fight for the land rights of the village. With 3 nominee for the new president, Emiliano was voted leader.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

Jose Merino at the town meeting in Anenecuilco.

Emiliano Zapata just voted chief leader of the village.

Leading Figure Emiliano was well respected by the village people. Although Zapata was young, the village people had no worries at all handing the powers and responsibility over to him. He became a leading figure in the village and soon became involved in struggles for the rights of the campesinos of Morelos. Zapata requested land rights from the government multiple times being denied each of those. Disgusted and annoyed, he made use of his armed forces

Leading Figure (Continued) Zapata requested land rights from the government multiple times being denied each of those. Disgusted and annoyed, he made use of his armed forces and taking over the land in dispute.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

General Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano and his armed forces.

Rebellion In March 1911, Zapata joined the rebellion against Diaz.With the fall of the Diaz ruling, Emiliano demanded land for the peasants, removal of federal troops from Morelos, and designation of an acceptable commander of state forces.Soon after being denied, he revolted again.

Rebellion (Continued) This time it worked. By April 1912, he was distributing land in Puebla and in other counties. Helping Emiliano along the way were a group of intellectuals including Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama and schoolteacher Otilio Montano.

http://www.answers.com/topic/emiliano-zapata

Zapata’s helper Antonio Diaz Soto y Gama

Emiliano’s other helper, Otilio Montano.

Taking Control In 1917 Zapata realized that for him to have great success in maintaining access to Mexico City, he would have to am and train his forces much better. First he had success in Jojutla, but failed to do so again against Torres Burgos. But soon after, Burgos died and Zapata was elected “Supreme Chief of the Revolutionary Movement of the South.” Now chief, Zapata gained all land necessary to have success in the future.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

Torres Burgos’s land.

Map of Jojutla, Mexico

Undefeated? Zapata had never been defeated in

battle by government forces. in 1919 he fell victim to an ambush

by General Pablo Gonzalez. Zapata agreed to receive a

messenger from the supporters of the president and to plan a meeting to speak about their defection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

Guajardo, one of the messengers and a part of the meeting Emiliano planned.

Zapata’s Death On April 10, 1919, Zapata was called to a meeting by Col Jesus Guajardo. As soon as he arrived, Guajardo’s men shot multiple bullets at him. They then took his dead body to Cuautla to claim bounty on him. Here they were only given half as much money as they were promised.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emiliano_Zapata

Emiliano after being shot repeatedly.