Observing Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution

The Mexican Revolution was an uprising response that occurred by the 1910’s after the 30 years of Porfirio Diaz the Democratic president left office until the first decade of the 20th century and the people of Mexico felt as though there wasn't a democracy as much as it was before due to most of the wealthy and rich people like lawyers and bankers, industrial developers, or anyone with wealth and power who could take on or enforce political change. During this same time, the less wealthy were affected and Mexico was in a bigger view of an agricultural country, were infuriated because they were largely working on lands that they didn't own and had no meaning in owning. The elites at this time were from the northern states of Mexico and were increasingly irritated by the inability to convince Porfirio Diaz to leave power peacefully. 

People like Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata are examples because they brought constituencies across Mexico together in overthrowing Diaz in 1911. Bringing the authoritarian ruler to live in Paris for the rest of his life. Mexico devolved into civil wars, and the country explored ​​vigorously into democratic rule and equal distribution of power. Later on, they agreed on a constitution and agreed that no precedents could be re-elected land would be redistributed to the unwealthy and they to have the right to life in that land, and churches were divested from national political affairs. (Prof. Julliete, “02.1 Hist 20 Podcast: 1910-1919”)

There was a newspaper I found about Pancho Villa, Pancho Villa was someone who had influence in battles and was an important military leader of the Mexican Revolution and had been largely supported by the United States. Later on, he was mad at the United States when they decided to put their support behind Carranza instead of him, so he led a raid through the city of Columbus, New Mexico to punish the United States. General Pershing was out to capture him for crossing the borders. But he never managed to and that is one of the reasons why Villa is very well known for being a national hero. ‘

In this article, they push a narrative that Pancho Villa wronged his sister into making himself a hero. In the article, it states that he ruined the marriage of his sister Within ten minutes from the time Francesco Villa's sister became the young magistrate's bride she became a widow. In a rage, he threatened the magistrate with death.  And had the ceremony where Villa stepped between his sister and the magistrate. And making death wishes towards the priest who was marrying the two by saying “Make ready a death warrant!" having the churchman seizing the prints of the marriage-bound book with the threat of a revolver. Villa ordered the priest to take his sister home and began his career as a bandit. (“The Ogden Standard”)

Another story I found about Pancho Villa and the Mexican Revolution was a video on YouTube from Dark History Shorts that talked about how the Mexican Revolution from 1910 and 1920 was mostly defined by suffering and injustice. And through that chaos, Pancho Villa emerged. Talking about his character how he was both charismatic and brutal in his ways of rising to power. And by rallying the disillusioned masses against poverty-overpowering landowners and a politically corrupted system. Throughout this Villa’s methods were tainted by bloodshed and violence. Resorted to guerrilla warfare and often targeted innocent bystanders, having daily livelihoods torn apart and homes destroyed. (“DarkHistory-Shorts,” )

In conclusion, I found that all three sources have very different views on the Mexican Revolution and how it was perceived in the eyes of the press and consumers.