Francisco Madero's Role In The Mexican Revolution

Porfirio Díaz

Porfirio’s role in the revolution was to maintain dictatorial rule over Mexico after becoming president and to defeat Madero along with his forces, including Villa and Orozco. He resigned after his troops were defeated at the Battle of Juárez in 1911 and went to Europe.

“Love isn't everything in life.” (http://www.quotesea.com/quotes/by/porfirio-diaz) Porfirio disregarded the negative thoughts of people he ruled over, which allowed him to rule to the extent of a dictator without listening to the people’s opinions.

“Poor Mexico, so far from God and so close to the United States.” (http://www.quotesea.com/quotes/by/porfirio-diaz) The Mexican revolutionists were mostly settled in the northern area of Mexico, close to the United States. When Porfirio says “so far from God”, he means that the revolutionists were going against God’s way, doing what was not right.

The small distance between the northerners and the United States border provided northerners with weapons and supplies.
“Diaz said of the Mexican people: 'a dog with a bone neither barks or bites.’” (http://www.quotesea.com/quotes/by/porfirio-diaz) Díaz’s view was that if you give the Mexican people what they want, they’ll stop fighting for more privelege.

2.

Francisco Madero

Madero’s role in the revolution was that he called for the Mexican Revolution to begin by writing the Plan de San Luis Potosí, and to use his troops, commanded by Villa and Orozco, to defeat Díaz at the Battle of Juárez in 1911. After that, Madero became the president of Mexico. Zapata was displeased by Madero’s inability to make land reforms for the peasant farmers. Zapata rose against Madero, but Huerta already turned against Madero and had Madero assassinated in 1913.

“A force of tyranny which we Mexicans were not accustomed to suffer after we won our independence oppresses us in such a manner that it has become intolerable. In exchange for that tyranny we are offered peace, but peace full of shame for the Mexican nation.” (http://politicalquotes.org/node/46789) After Mexico won its independence from Spain in 1810, Mexico was controlled by presidents in complete power in exchange for keeping quiet against oppression. This silence was seen as a shame to the Mexican nation for Madero, thus prompting him to make a change by igniting the start of the Mexican

Revolution.
“Better to die on one's feet than to live on one's knees.” (http://www.biography.com/people/francisco-madero-39449) Madero views that people should fight for what they believe in and die rather than be a slave to oppression and live. This is a philosophy that is carried by Madero and the revolutionists throughout the Mexican Revolution, encouraging them to fight for what they believe in.
“Effective suffrage—no re-election!” (http://www.biography.com/people/francisco-madero-39449) Madero believed that re-election should not be allowed. Madero is referring to Díaz, who was re-elected after Madero was imprisoned for running against Díaz in the presidential campaign. Madero also started an anti-reelectionist movement.

3. Emiliano Zapata

Emiliano Zapata formed the Liberation Army of the South and fought under command of Madero. After Madero’s presidency, Zapata soon realized that Madero wasn’t going to make any agrarian land reforms in favor of peasant farmers and launched the Plan de Ayala in 1911. With Madero assassinated in 1913, Huerta was the new target. Zapata joined forces with Carranza and defeated Huerta’s troops, but in 1914 Carranza was a disappointment in Zapata’s eyes. In 1919, Zapata was killed by Carranza’s men.

“Tierra y Libertad” (http://www.biography.com/people/emiliano-zapata-9540356) Zapata believed in land reforms to return the land the hacendados stole away from the indigenous peasant farmers.
“I want to die a slave to principles. Not to men.” (http://izquotes.com/quote/280319) Zapata’s reasoning to fight is for the sake of principles that he believes are correct, rather than for other people.
“One of the happiest days of my life is when I made five or six hundred pesos from a crop of watermelons I raise all on my own.” (http://izquotes.com/quote/355595) Zapata favors the agrarian lifestyle. This influenced Zapata to push for agrarian reform during the Mexican Revolution.

4. Pancho Villa

Pancho Villa was a military leader during the Mexican Revolution. Villa strategically command troops under the leadership of Madero to fight against Díaz. After Madero became president in 1911, Villa was sent to prison in 1912 after Huerta accused Villa of stealing his horse. Villa escaped in December 1912 and discovered that Huerta was now against
Madero, who was assassinated later in February 22, 1913. He joined forces with Zapata and Carranza to take down Huerta, the new president. After that, Villa and Zapata then attempted to take down Carranza, who was in power. In 1920, Carranza was assassinated and Villa retired.

“My sole ambition is to rid Mexico of the class that has oppressed her and given the people a chance to know what real liberty means. And if I could bring that about today by giving up my life, I would do it gladly.” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/panchovill539981.html) Pancho Villa believed in fighting to the death so that the Mexican people could have a taste of true freedom.

“I am not an educated man. I never had an opportunity to learn anything except how to fight.”
(http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/panchovill539980.html) Villa wasn’t born into a wealthy heritage. The opportunity to be educated wasn’t presented to him, so instead he took the opportunities himself and made use of his abilities to fight for the revolution.

“"Don't let it end like this. Tell them I said something." (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/p/panchovill170677.html) Pancho Villa didn’t want to die without letting people know that he tried to send a message through his battles and death.

5. Pascual Orozco

Orozco joined under Madero’s forces and worked together with Pancho Villa. Orozco and Villa commanded Madero’s troops. In the Battle of Juárez in 1911, Orozco and Villa’s men defeated Díaz’s government troops, which lead to the resignation of Díaz and the presidency of Madero. In 1912, Orozco, like Zapata, rallied against Madero, who he saw as an enemy. Orozco was put into exile by Madero’s general, Huerta, but in 1913 Huerta planned a coup against Madero. With Madero out of the way, Orozco joined forces under Huerta, who was now president. After Carranza, Obregón, and Villa exiled Huerta, Orozco ran to the United States. In 1915, Orozco was killed by a Texas rancher who claimed Orozco stole his horses.

“As a self-starter who had made his own fortune, he became disenchanted with the corrupt regime of Porfirio Díaz, who tended to favor old money and those with connections, neither of which Orozco had.” (http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/pascualorozco.htm) Orozco, like most other revolutionaries, desired Díaz’s regime to be overthrown for personal reasons as well as moral reasons.

“. . . Villa and Orozco joined forces when, at the battle of Juárez, they ignored Madero’s orders not to attack.” (http://www.pbs.org/itvs/storm-that-swept-mexico/the-revolution/faces-revolution/pascual-orozco/)
Orozco’s disobeyment to Madero led to the victory of the Battle of Juárez, but it caused conflict between him and Madero later on.

“. . . Orozco commanded the largest and most powerful of the revolutionary armies and that he won several key battles in the early days of the revolution. Although it has been asserted by some that Orozco was an opportunist who coldly used the revolution to his own gain, that does not change the fact that if not for Orozco, Díaz may well have crushed Madero in 1911.” (http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thehistoryofmexico/p/pascualorozco.htm) Orozco played a role that led not only Madero to victory, but to other battles as well.

6. General Victoriano Huerta

Huerta was originally a general of Díaz but when Díaz was thrown out of office, he remained as a general and served under Madero. Huerta’s troops fought against enemies such as Orozco and Zapata while still serving under Madero. Soon after in 1913, Huerta betrayed Madero and planned a coup against him; Madero was assassinated. In 1914, Venustiano Carranza, Álvaro Obregón, and Francisco Villa had Huerta exiled. In 1916, he died.

“His rule was repressive, and he was almost immediately confronted with opposition, which drove him out.” (http://www.biography.com/people/victoriano-huerta-39094) Huerta’s rule was much like that of Díaz, who he admired.
“Though an admirer of dictator Porfirio Díaz, General Victoriano Huerta served his successor, Francisco Madero.” (http://www.biography.com/people/victoriano-huerta-39094) Huerta’s views were similar to those of Díaz, who he admired.
“An important figure in the Mexican Revolution, he fought against Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Félix Díaz and other rebels before and during his time in office.” (http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/presidentsofmexico/a/vhuerta.htm) Huerta assumed position of president in office, and he fought against other revolutionists.

7. James Creelman

Creelman interviewed Díaz in 1908 and had the interview published to the public, which sparked the emergence of the Mexican Revolution.

“When this interview was published it inspired a rich landowner in northern Mexico to gather supporters around him and attempt to build a political backing of followers that could defeat Diaz in the 1910 election.” (http://www2.ups.edu/faculty/jlago/fl380/source3_02.htm) Creelman inspired Madero to run against Díaz, which was the beginning of the Mexican Revolution.
“These words were designed for a foreign audience, and Díaz never thought they would be translated and published in Mexico in El Imparcial a few days later.”

8. Jose Yves Limantour

9. Demetrio Macías

10. Luis Cervantes

11. Solís

12. Blondie/Margarito

13. Camilla

14. War Paint/La Pintada

15. Anastasio Montañez

16. Fortunata

17. Meco

18. Pancracio

19. Plan de San Luis Potosí

20. Plan de Ayala