VI. The World Wars and the Interwar Period, 1914–1945 > E. Latin America and the Caribbean, 1914–1945 > 4. Mexico > 1919, April 10
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  The Encyclopedia of World History.  2001.
 
 
1919, April 10
 
After struggling to defeat Zapatista forces for years, Carranza approved a plan to lure Zapata into a phony meeting with a “defecting” officer. Upon arrival Zapata was executed by federal soldiers.  1
 
1920–26
 
Initial enthusiasm over the radical articles in the Constitution of 1917 waned. Conservative governments refused to implement land and labor codes, eschewing reform in favor of proforeign and procapitalist economic and social policies to jumpstart a devastated economy. With the original revolutionaries largely destroyed, new regional leaders emerged who continued the battle for social revolution. Primo Tapia, a Tarascan peasant, led a series of agrarian revolts for land in Michoacán. The sentiment in these revolts, which were echoed by leaders such as Adalberto Tejada in Veracruz, represented continuing discontent with the slow and uneven pace of land and political reform in rural Mexico. In some cases these movements also promoted a strong sense of Indian ethnic identity, aligning with Mexico's growing Indigenista movement.  2
 
1920, April 9
 
Three of the leading generals (Adolfo de la Huerta, Alvaro Obregón, and Plutarco Elías Calles) joined forces against Carranza, who was accused of attempting to dictate the presidential succession. The opposition, an alliance of Sonoran generals from the north, proclaimed the Plan de Agua Prieta and took to the field.  3
 
May 8
 
Obregón took Mexico City and thereafter many of the cities on the east coast. Carranza was killed (May 21), and Villa surrendered to the victorious insurgents (July 27); he was endowed with a handsome estate, which he enjoyed until his assassination in 1923.  4
 
Sept. 5
 
OBREGÓN elected president. He was recognized by the U.S. (Aug. 31, 1923) upon agreement to respect titles to land acquired before 1917 and to accept an adjustment of American claims.  5
 
 
 
The Encyclopedia of World History, Sixth edition. Peter N. Stearns, general editor. Copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Maps by Mary Reilly, copyright © 2001 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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