Francisco Villa
Doroteo Arango By: Lupe Padilla
Best known leader of the Mexican Revolution
Francisco, better known as "Pancho villa", he was the son of a sharecropper at the hacienda in San Juan Del Rio. Since he was a kid he grew up witnessing and experiencing the harshness of a peasant life. When he was only fifteen his father died, so pancho had to take on the role of being a sharecropper just like his father was. Unfortunately, the owner of the ranch tried taking advantage of pancho's sister. Therefore, pancho shot him. After the tragedy Francisco spent most of his time running away from the law. By 1896 he joined a different group of bandits, they would steal cattle, rob shipments of money and stealing from the rich to give it to the poor.
The Revolution
Francisco Villa was becoming more and more popular among the people as he was known for his crimes and robbery. Soon enough this captured the attention of one man named Francisco Madero who was planning to start a revolution. His skills were wanted and thought he could be used for a guerilla fighter. Madero promised change for the lower classes so pancho agreed into being the leader of the revolutionary army. It was from Oct. 1910 - May 1911 that Villa seemed to be an effective leader. November 1910 the Mexican Revolution began in the state of Chihuahua. On May 1911 Villa resigned due to differences he had with another with another commander. After being in prison and getting married Pancho allied himself with Venustiano Carranza to fight against Huerta. By 1913 Villa led a revolutionary force numbering about 3,000 people, known as the Division del Norte. The battle for Torreon made Villa a national leader. By now he led 16,000 soldiers.The battle of Zacatecas was the biggest and bloodiest battle of the revolution. With this said Villa continued his victorious assaults against the federal troops for several years more.
Attack in the U.S
However, Villa tasted a major defeat in Celaya against General Obregon in April 1915. Not only that but problems arised. He did not have reinforcements prepared, and even if he had, he did not have enough ammunition to continue fighting. Merchants in Columbus, New Mexico backed out on their promise of weapons and ammunition leaving them with none. Furious by this notice Francisco decided to attack the town in March of 1916. Due to the attack Villa made history by becoming the second foreign military attack on American soil since the British in the war of 1812. When president Woodrow Wilson, at the time, found out about the attack he ordered General Jack Pershing to follow Villa and either kill him or bring him back to the U.S to stand trial. They hunted him down for about a year, or at least tried but it wasn't any use, they weren't able to catch Villa. On May of 1920, Carranza who was the current president of Mexico was killed therefore, Adolfo De la Huerta became the temporary president of Mexico. He wanted peace in Mexico so he decided to negotiate with Francisco Villa for his retirement. Villa ended up retiring in 1920 and living a peaceful life in his hacienda that he received in Chihuahua as part of the agreement. Unfortunately his happiness didn't last long, Pancho was killed on July 20 of 1923 after being gunned down on his car.
He will be remembered
Francisco Villa, or should I say Pancho Villa will always remain down on history because of his courage for fighting for lower class people and not being treated like slaves. For trying to overcome the rich from getting richer. Mexicans will remember him with pride for leading the most important military campaigns of the revolution.